When the Key Men met in secret in 1931 to create ALPA, the United States was in the throes of the Great Depression. The nation and the world were in turmoil. Yet the Key Men knew that much more united than divided them and that their best hopes for the future depended on banding together to present a coherent, cohesive voice—at the negotiating table, on the picket line, in the corridors of political power in Washington, D.C., and on Wall Street. Today, when single- and twin- engine turboprops connect Americans and Canadians with hubs that launch turbofan-powered widebodied jets to five other continents, that fundamental truth remains as valid today as it was in 1931. Turn the page to learn more about your ALPA brothers and sisters. Some of the perennial themes and common denominators of their stories and struggles are older than this, the largest union of pilots in the world.

The Pilots ofALPA ) innacle (P killings S rent B . capt 2013 PHOTO BY BY PHOTO January 2013 Air Line Pilot 13 n March 1, 2012, the While setting a new Southwest slowly spooled up. The FAA approved South- course and settling into their Autumn brought addi- Pilots Owest ’ applica- new roles, the MEC was tional change to the airline. of tion for a single operating confronted with Southwest’s Southwest announced that certificate (SOC) with wholly announcement on May 22, the Milwaukee, Wisc., base, ALPA owned AirTran Airways. With 2012, that it had reached a which was expected to stay the SOC in hand, Southwest tentative agreement with open into 2013, would draw 2013 moved forward and began Delta to sublease AirTran’s down and eventually close. transitioning AirTran’s opera- B-717s—an agreement In preparation for the tions, including moving some that changed the tone and transition of the majority of AirTran pilots “across the tenor of the transition among Milwaukee-based pilots and Setting a partition,” the invisible wall AirTran pilots, Southwest at the request of the MEC, New Course that now separates the two management, and the ALPA’s Executive Council companies and pilot groups. Pilots’ reviewed and approved the By Toni C. Vacinek The inaugural conversion Association. The MEC leaders dissolution of the Milwaukee Senior Communications class of pilots took place on are currently working with local council, with the remain- Specialist March 28, 2012, and just ALPA staff and pilot leaders to ing members joining the fewer than 200 of the 1,750 sort through the ramifications local council in Orlando, Fla., the previous headquarters Retired B-717 of AirTran Airways and the F/O Jo Beth original base for its pilots. Lynch after However, Orlando will also landing her soon be shrinking as pilot retirement transitioning across the parti- flight in Atlanta, tion increases and the num- Ga., on Oct. 28, ber of routes flown by AirTran 2012. Lynch is pilots decreases. The dis- the first pilot solution of the Orlando local in five years council is on the horizon, and to retire at AirTran and the first ALPA-represented AirTran the remaining pilots will again pilot to retire. Lynch, an ALPA member for 28 years, is also a reunite as one council—until retired captain on the B-757 and B-767 for . She that, too, is gone. made significant contributions to her fellow pilots, ALPA, and “The majority of our pilots the airline industry with her dedication to safety in leadership are still waiting to cross the roles at Air Virginia and United. partition to Southwest,” says Capt. Jim Morris, the pilots’ pilots on the former AirTran for their members. MEC chairman. “For most seniority list are now flying As one group of AirTran of those who remain, the under the Southwest livery. pilots was getting ready to sublease of the B-717 fleet to Facing transition within begin conversion training at Delta changes the landscape. its own group, and as part of Southwest, another group of We at the MEC are doing ev- the Master Executive Council pilots filed a dispute resolu- erything possible to make this (MEC) officer term of office tion claim with the Dispute work for our members, who cycle, which ended in April, Resolution Committee, expected this transition to the MEC elected new officers consisting of two premerger look vastly different than it to continue the work of AirTran pilots and two pre- does today.” representing the best interests merger Southwest pilots, of the AirTran pilot group. regarding the effect on the Whereas the former leaders seniority integration agree- AtaGlance were focused on seniority ment due to the sublease of n Pilots joined ALPA: 2009 list integration and contract B-717s to Delta. Meanwhile, n Number of pilots: 1,500+ negotiations, the task of AirTran’s Negotiating n Pilot domiciles: Atlanta, Ga.; Milwaukee, Wisc.; and Orlando, Fla. moving through the merger Committee, at the direction n Headquarters: Dallas, Tex. with Southwest belongs to the of the MEC, engaged the n Operations/services: AirTran current slate of officers and company in discussions to Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary representatives. Developing obtain improvements to of Southwest Airlines Co., offers the goals and the strategy for maintain the quality of life for coast-to-coast and near-international service with close to 600 flights a day maintaining a transition that the pilots who would remain to 54 destinations is smooth and transparent was on the AirTran side of the n Fleet: 88 B-717s and 41 B-737s

AirTran the first order of business. partition as the transition to

14 Air Line Pilot January 2013 he Air Transat pilots airline some relief, the pilots During testimony, Capt. Dan The have seen the effect agreed to extend the life of Adamus (Jazz), ALPA’s Canada Tthat government policy their contract by a year, to Board president, said: “The Pilots May 2015. They also agreed of can have on airline opera- issue of hiring foreign pilots tions. The pilots have had to to a cost-of-living freeze, and its impacts on the labour ALPA endure the detrimental ef- approving a bonus program to force are subjects that need fects of Canada’s Temporary recoup lost wages if company to be taken seriously by the 2013 Foreign Worker Program and performance improves. federal government. Some the use of wet-leasing by “We understand that our airline managements have competing airlines for the last airline is concerned about been abusing the Temporary few years. Sizeable losses and overextending itself,” says Foreign Worker Program Pilots concerns about diluted de- Lavoie. “The airplanes that we by using it for competitive Combat Job mand pushed the airline into parked were eventually going advantages instead of filling a downsizing and restructuring to be replaced, but now, with labour shortage as originally Outsourcing in 2012. this fight, we’re waiting to see envisioned by the legislation.” By John Perkinson ALPA and Air Transat’s what happens.” Despite these challenges, Staff Writer parent company, Transat A.T., The Temporary Foreign Lavoie describes his pilot Inc., banded together with Air Worker Program allows air- group’s relationship with Canada and WestJet to pub- lines to forgo hiring Canadian management as positive. “We licly denounce the Canadian pilots and instead employ have problems here and there, Transportation Agency’s overseas pilots and save on but we have a good channel of November 2012 decision to initial training costs. However, communications with senior uphold these practices. The several Canadian airlines management, and we’re group condemned agency have sidestepped the clause working together to help our airline succeed. However, we An Air Transat A330 at also understand that we’re a Montréal-Trudeau Airport. publicly traded company and that we need to make money to stay in business.” Lavoie remains hopeful that the airline industry can convince the Canadian gov-

COURTESY AIR TRANSAT COURTESY ernment to see the shortcom- approval of Canadian airline that delineates that foreign ings of this destructive policy Sunwing’s seasonal use of workers can be employed and act in the best interest of four Czech airplanes and only if the company can its citizens. overseas flight crews as part demonstrate that no suitable Air Transat offers both of its winter operation. Canadian residents can fill scheduled and charter ALPA and the other avia- the available jobs. Lavoie flights using a fleet of Airbus tion stakeholders pointed out points out, “It appears that A310s and A330s. The air- that half of Sunwing’s pilots some airlines will overlook a line balances its southbound and two-thirds of its airplanes Canadian applicant if he or operations in the winter in use this winter are from she doesn’t have the specific with trips to Europe in the other countries, giving the type rating for the airplanes summer and carries nearly airline an unfair operating that airline uses.” 2 million passengers per advantage and neglecting In addition, the program year to 60 destinations in 25 unemployed Canadian pilots. calls for reciprocity—i.e., use countries. On Nov. 14, 2012, Sunwing and similar carriers of available Canadian pilots Air Transat celebrated its use these tactics to take ad- in the program’s participating 25th anniversary. vantage of Canadians’ travel countries during Canada’s to the Caribbean and Central summer season—but this and South America during policy is not being properly AtaGlance the winter, when demand is at honoured. n Pilots joined ALPA: 1999 a premium. Lavoie notes that ALPA’s n Number of pilots: 436 (including “We laid off 56 pilots this Canada Board has been a furloughees) fall and had to park two of strong ally, testifying before n Headquarters: Pierre E. Trudeau our A310s,” says Capt. Carol Parliament to mitigate the International Airport, Montreal, P.Q. n Pilot bases: Montreal, P.Q.; Lavoie, the pilots’ Master effects of job outsourcing Toronto, Ont.; and Vancouver, B.C. Executive Council (MEC) on the Air Transat pilots and n Fleet: 11 A310s and 12 A330s

Air Transat chairman. To provide the other Canadian pilot groups.

January 2013 Air Line Pilot 15 y the time the newly in Arlington, Tex., to create seniority list, the committees The elected Master Ex- a strategy for educating the submitted their final written Becutive Council (MEC) two groups on the JCBA. The arguments and supporting Pilots meeting’s outcome consisted documentation to Bloch, of leaders officially took office in March 2012, they were of an educational packet who is expected to issue a ALPA already fully immersed in that included the JCBA and final integrated seniority list important discussions regard- a road show schedule to award shortly. The completed 2013 ing the future of their flight- reach all the crewmembers. list will then be presented crew members. Meetings with The JCBA ratification vote to management, which will management, the previous closed on September 24 with conclude the ALPA portion of MEC, and the Capital Cargo 63 percent of the combined the operational merger. The Difference MEC officers were already crewmembers voting in favor In an unfortunate turn A Year Can under way in evaluating of the joint agreement. of events, management scenarios for combining Air After the JCBA’s ratifica- announced in December a Make Transport International (ATI) tion, Capt. Brendan Twomey, reduction in the fleet and By Tawnya Burket and Capital Cargo Interna- ATI’s MEC chairman, com- crew force. The announce- Communications tional Airlines (CCIA), as the mented on the work that had ment indicated that almost Specialist two airlines are owned by Air been done and the MEC’s half of the airline’s crewmem- Transport Services Group, Inc. expectations Using ALPA merger policy for the future.

as guidance, the two MECs “The work of the ) worked closely with ALPA crewmembers Representation Department in reaching and nternational staff in developing a transition ratifying this I JCBA should and process agreement (TPA) ransport T signal to man- ir that became the merger’s (A

blueprint—outlining the agement that we lson O share the goal of

negotiating process to attain cott

a joint collective bargain- seeing ATI pros- F/E S ing agreement (JCBA) and per. This merger Capt. Dan Kuhn and F/O Brad Rath with integrated seniority list, and was manage- Korean ground coordinators before ultimately creating one airline. ment’s idea, and departing in their DC-8 from Incheon, Korea. The arduous task of expe- once the merger ditiously negotiating a JCBA is complete, we expect to bers would receive furlough began after the crewmem- take part in that prosperity,” notices before year’s end. bers ratified the TPA. The said Twomey. “Our focus now “The announcement of joint negotiating committee will be implementing and a reduction in aircraft from (JNC) consisting of three enforcing our contract while management was dishearten- members from each MEC welcoming our brothers and ing news to our crewmem- and ALPA’s Representation sisters from Capital Cargo into bers,” says Twomey. “We can Department labor relations the ATI family.” only hope that the cargo counsel bargained with man- Upon JCBA ratification, industry turns around, allow- agement over the summer. the TPA then required the ing our fellow crewmembers On August 6, the MEC held ATI Integrated Seniority List to return to the airline and a special meeting in Boston, Committee members to be- the synergies of the merger Mass., where it appointed gin seniority integration talks come to fruition.” the Integration Seniority with their CCI counterparts. List Committee. Three days According to their agreement, later, the JNC reached an the two committees met mul- AtaGlance agreement-in-principle on tiple times within the allotted n Pilots joined ALPA: November the JCBA. During the next 30 days of direct negotiations 2009 weeks, the MEC reviewed the in August and September n Number of pilots: 240, with 150 on furlough tentative agreement (TA) and but were unable to reach n Operations: Combi passenger, authorized a crewmember an agreement. During the military, and cargo operations around ratification vote. first two weeks in October, the world The MEC, along with the the committees then met n Base: Home-based CCI MEC and Representation in mediation with Arbitrator n Corporate headquarters: Little Rock, Ark. Department and Communi- Richard Bloch. On October n Fleet: Currently operates three cations Department staff, met 15, after mediation failed DC-8 combis and three B-767s during the week of August 20 to produce an integrated Air Transport International 16 Air Line Pilot January 2013 ir Wisconsin pilots ed that they will start abiding they become available in the The have been working to by the new rules before the industry. Meanwhile, pilot Abuild the structure for implementation deadline to leaders are monitoring the Pilots a competitive contract over enable both the pilot group company’s business plan, of the past two years and are and the company to become preparing for what they hope ALPA focusing their efforts on com- accustomed to them before will be a profitable future, pleting the process in 2013. they become regulatory. and developing contingency 2013 The pilots, who are currently In recent months, nego- plans. They are also working in their ninth year of a con- tiations have focused on to strengthen relationships cessionary agreement, have additional economic areas with other pilot group leaders clearly and consistently stated of the contract. Although the through their active participa- Endgame their justifiable expectations progress of negotiations has tion in ALPA’s US Airways Negotiations for this contract to manage- slowed, both parties remain Express Pilots Alliance. ment: improved pay, benefits, committed to and engaged in Furthermore, they are bridg- Within Sight and work rules. the process. ing the gap with their fellow By Lydia Jakub “We’re at the 30-yard line, “It’s critical, given the employees by Senior Communications working to drive the ball turbulent state of the airline hosting events at headquar- Specialist forward,” says Capt. Richard industry and rampant specu- ters to demonstrate that they, Swindell, chairman of the lation about a looming pilot too, are committed to the pilots’ Master Executive shortage, that we secure a success of the airline. Council (MEC). “Air Wisconsin ratifiable agreement in the To keep the pilot group is a successful, financially near term,” says Swindell. informed, the MEC rein- viable company due, in large “Doing so will benefit the vigorated its communications part, to the sacrifices made program. They maintain by our pilot group. It’s time a presence on the line for those contributions to be and in the crew rooms to recognized at the bargaining answer questions and solicit table through increased pilot feedback. A constant flow of pay, better benefits, and information is also available quality-of-life enhancements.” via e-news updates, social me- Since beginning negotia- dia, and other MEC resources tions in October 2010, the to ensure that pilots get the pilots have reached 16 information they need in the tentative agreements with Capt. Dave Beyer and F/O format they want. management. They have Brian Beyer, who are father These and other strategies also narrowed down the and son. are being used to advance the list of items in many of the pilots’ agenda for a fair con- remaining 14 sections using pilot group and company by tract. The endgame is within a unique combination of positioning Air Wisconsin for sight, and a multifaceted plan traditional and interest-based continued labor stability and is in place to ensure that the bargaining methods. future growth.” pilot group will be ready to With the Scheduling and One challenge will be act when called upon. Hours of Service sections, for maintaining adequate pilot example, the pilots met with staffing. In 2012, Air Wisconsin management negotiators to hired approximately 100 AtaGlance identify the interests of each new pilots and expects to do party and work toward agree- the same this year. The MEC n Pilots joined ALPA: 1982 as a result of the Union of Professional ments that addressed those secured preferential interviews Airmen merger with ALPA interests to their mutual for furloughed ALPA members n Number of pilots: 665 satisfaction. They have since last year, and the company has n Operations: Nearly 500 departures passed proposals on these already hired many furloughed per day to 26 states and 3 Canadian sections that included the ALPA pilots from Comair, provinces; with service to 70 cities throughout North America, the airline FAA’s new flight-time/duty- Pinnacle, and Trans States. carries nearly 6 million passengers time regulations (FAR Part With nearly all airlines plan- per year 117) to define utilization of ning to hire this year, however, n Headquarters: Appleton, Wisc. flight crews, building sched- the competition for qualified n Domiciles: New York, N.Y. (LGA); ules, and other work rules to pilots will be fierce. Norfolk, Va. (ORF); Philadelphia, Pa. (PHL); and Washington, D.C. (DCA) enhance pilots’ overall quality It’s up to Air Wisconsin n Fleet: 71 Canadair 50-seat regional of life. Senior management management to evaluate jets (CRJ200s) representatives have indicat- and seize opportunities as Air Wisconsin

January 2013 Air Line Pilot 17 he the Scheduling Management negotiate beyond April 1 The pilots are just months Group—a joint ALPA-Alaska and for as long as it takes to Taway from the April working group created with achieve a quality agreement. Pilots 1, 2013, amendable date of the ratification of Contract The MEC’s Strategic Planning of their collective bargaining ‘09—has been meeting Committee is now in the MEC ALPA agreement. The pilots’ Mas- periodically to tackle and find office full-time to focus on ne- ter Executive Council (MEC) solutions to problems with gotiations. Throughout 2012, 2013 remains hopeful that when the application of scheduling the MEC grew and developed that date arrives, rather than language. its Pilot-to-Pilot and Family enter into the status quo Last July, the Negotiating Awareness Committees, train- period—during which time Committee began meeting ing volunteers in all four of Pilots there are no improvements with management’s full nego- Alaska’s bases who will help Working to the collective bargaining tiating team. The parties are share information between agreement—the pilots will be now talking about language the MEC and pilot group, with Toward a working under a new, negoti- related to job security, one the goal of ensuring that the ated contract that reflects of the four cornerstones of pilot group and their families New the role that they play in the the contract. Most recently, are informed and engaged. Contract airline’s success. discussions at the negotiating “Our goal remains a table have included scope, contract by April 1, but we By Jenn Sutton A year and a half ago, Senior Communications when they approved their merger, and acquisition lan- must and will be prepared to Specialist strategic plan, the Alaska guage. While plenty of work negotiate as long as it takes MEC members drew up seven still remains to goals for the future. One of be done, the MEC their most important goals is continues to stay to find opportunities to im- fully engaged prove the contractual corner- in the effort to stones of the pilots’ collective reach a new col- bargaining agreement—pay, lective bargaining work rules, job security, and agreement in a benefits—on an ongoing timely manner. basis. Within this goal, the “Reaching an MEC included a desire to agreement by the work to reach a new collective amendable date utton

bargaining agreement by the would benefit S enn amendable date, noting that both our pilots J doing so would provide ben- and our com- Capt. Tim Hope at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. efits to both the pilot group pany by avoiding and the company. protracted, contentious to achieve an agreement Since ratification of negotiations and a status quo that reflects this pilot group’s Contract ’09, the pilot group’s period during which there needs and requirements,” Negotiating Committee, at would be no improvements Notaro says. the MEC’s direction, has been to our contract,” says Capt. working with management to Chris Notaro, the pilots’ MEC address issues as they arise, chairman. “We remain hope- AtaGlance including about three dozen ful we will reach that goal. But memorandums of under- we still have a long way to go n Number of pilots: 1,472 n Operations: 95 destinations with standing (MOU) and letters in key areas, and we will not 436 daily departures in the United of agreement (LOA), such as sacrifice a quality agreement States, Mexico, and Canada. This an MOU that allowed pilots for the sake of expediency.” includes 40 markets flown by Horizon more flexibility in how they The MEC has been polling Air, which provides traffic feed to bid for vacation and an LOA the pilots periodically, via Alaska Airlines under a capacity- purchase agreement. During recent that allowed furloughed pilots both telephone polls and years, Alaska has added new destina- an option to temporarily more recently through ALPA’s tions to expand its network from its bypass recall if they desired to new online polling system, to main hub in Seattle, Wash., as well as do so. Additionally, the pilots’ ensure they understand what from its hubs in Anchorage, Alaska; Grievance Committee meets their priorities are. Los Angeles, Calif.; and Portland, Ore. n Fleet: An all-Boeing fleet of 24 monthly with management to While the MEC members 737-400s, 17 -700s, 58 -800s, 12 review grievance submissions believe they’re on a path -900s, 2 -900ERs, 5 -400Cs, and 1 in an effort to resolve issues toward achieving their goal, -400 freighter on a more timely basis, and they also are prepared to Alaska

18 Air Line Pilot January 2013 t was a challenging year for language in bankruptcy,” pilots will still have the op- The American Eagle pilots as Gutierrez explains. “We are portunity to decline PBS and Ithey negotiated their way not aware of any other re- provide equivalent savings in Pilots through bankruptcy. How- gional airline pilot group that an alternative manner. ALPA of ever, they emerged from the has ever achieved furlough also obtained limited control ALPA process with an eight-year protection of this magnitude over the pairing generation agreement that maintains in a bankruptcy negotiation.” and bid run processes. 2013 key contract provisions and The MEC also felt that “Although none of us ensures that the pilots have pay banding—a system wanted to navigate the bank- job security and opportunity that pays captains based on ruptcy process during our for career advancement, as their seniority instead of the Pilots Surpass well as scoring a contract that actual equipment they are fly- Expectations includes landmark furlough ing—could save a significant protection language. amount of money on costly During “Emerging from bankruptcy training. The theory is that Bankruptcy with the majority of our hard- if a senior captain can hold won contract in place is a the CRJ (the highest-paying Negotiations major achievement in helping equipment type) but is flying By Kimberly Seitz to ensure that Eagle remains the EMB, that pilot will likely Senior Communications a viable career choice for both stay on the EMB if he or she Specialist existing and future pilots,” says is receiving CRJ pay. The pay Capt. Tony Gutierrez, the pilots’ banding system encourages Master Executive Council pilots not to chase money

(MEC) chairman. “The hard by bidding on higher-paying EAGLE) (AMERICAN F/O ANDI LUSHA work is not yet over. Contract equipment since there is no American Eagle terminal at implementation will be change in pay when changing Chicago O’Hare International tedious, but a massive piece of equipment. Instead, a pilot’s Airport during a winter afternoon. this process is now complete. seniority determines which And we look forward to airplane rate a pilot receives. career,” says Gutierrez, “we expeditious approval from the The agreement also includes are pleased that this difficult bankruptcy court.” language protecting junior chapter is now behind us and As a wholly owned subsid- captains who might immedi- that we can focus on moving iary of AMR (the parent com- ately incur a reduction in pay forward, exiting bankruptcy, pany of , because they no longer can refleeting, and pursuing paths

which filed for Chapter 11 hold the pay band associated to grow our company and bankruptcy in November with the equipment they are ensure that we maintain solid 2011), American Eagle agreed actually flying. piloting jobs well into the to provide furlough protection Another creative cost-sav- future.” equal to the number of active ing solution is the personal pilots required to staff be- time off (PTO) bank, which tween 205 and 216 airplanes combines regular sick and AtaGlance or 60 percent of American vacation leave into one bank. n Pilots joined ALPA: 1995 (although Airlines’ total regional fleet, Monthly sick leave credit Simmons had been an ALPA member whichever is less. This also accruals and annual vacation since 1986, after the National includes guaranteeing that credit hours are deposited Mediation Board’s 1995 ruling that the 50 percent of the active pilots into each pilot’s PTO bank. four airlines serving American Airlines retain captain pay. If Eagle is Pilots may then use that PTO —Executive, Flagship, Simmons, and Wings West—constituted a single divested or American merges credit for sick calls, vacation airline, the Eagle pilots established a with another airline, Eagle time, personal vacation days, single MEC) will “furlough protect” 95 and approved commuter and n Number of pilots: 3,000 percent of Eagle’s pilots on fatigue calls (at the pilot’s n Pilot domiciles: Chicago, Ill.; the seniority list at the date of option). Dallas/Ft. Worth, Tex.; Miami, Fla.; JFK and LGA, N.Y.; and San Juan, P.R. signing. Additionally, if Eagle And the final big piece of n Operations: More than 1,700 is in furlough-protect mode, the puzzle was the imple- daily flights to more than 150 cities American may be required mentation of a preferential throughout the United States, Canada, to increase the percentage bidding system (PBS). The the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and of Eagle pilots in American’s new agreement provides a Mexico n Headquarters: Ft. Worth, Tex. new-hire classes. PBS that is built jointly by the n Fleet: CRJ700s, EMB-135s, EMB- “Historically, pilot groups company and ALPA. After the 140s, EMB-145s, and ATR 72s lose furlough-protection system is in place, the Eagle American Eagle January 2013 Air Line Pilot 19 n August 2010, parent joint pilot group and all of the a new domicile and mainte- The company SkyWest, Inc., future pilots who will serve nance base will be located Iannounced that Atlantic under this contract.” in Dallas. Already, more than Pilots The discussions about their 100 pilots have bid into the of Southeast (ASA) would pur- chase ExpressJet and merge collective professional futures new DFW domicile. ALPA them. By December 2011, the have included not just the “As much as we are pleased carrier had one certificate— ASA and ExpressJet pilots, but with the additional flying, we 2013 effectively making it one air- also the third pilot group in are aware that this comes line. A few months later, after the SkyWest family, SkyWest at the expense of our fellow an aborted attempt to name Airlines. In August 2012, the ALPA pilots at American the airline SureJet, it got one two ALPA groups met face- Eagle,” Nieuwenhuis says. Working name—ExpressJet. to-face with the leaders of “Although there has been no Hard Toward Despite having one certifi­ the SkyWest Airlines Pilots reduction in pilot positions cate and one name, the pilot Association to talk about at American Eagle, as airline A Combined groups remain separate— SkyWest, Inc.’s financial situ- pilots we need to encourage Future each having its own contract ation and to compare notes stability within the industry, while they both negotiate and strategies. The three rather than simply shuffling B y Jen Lofquist with the goal of a single groups also met with SkyWest the same flying from company Senior Communications contract. Until that time, the management to emphasize to company and being played Specialist ASA pilots continue to func- their goals and to review against each other. We know tion as an independent pilot the current state of the U.S. that the most secure future group and operate under their airline industry. for our careers is a vibrant and premerger contract. “By forging a close relation- flourishing industry. We are Negotiations on a joint ship with the SkyWest pilots, colleagues—not combatants.” collective bargaining agree- we are able ment (JCBA) began almost to better as soon as the merger was ensure that announced. Communications no one went out jointly from ASA and pilot group is being ratch- ExpressJet, and the groups jemvick eted against H hold joint Master Executive osh

Council (MEC) meetings and another F/O J continue to communicate and that we F/O Nathan Somers completes a preflight check with each other on almost a have access at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. daily basis. With preferential to as much bidding system issues still information as possible,” says The pilots have put these dividing the two groups and Nieuwenhuis. “We all need to words into action by actively the economic sections of work together to move this participating in ALPA’s Delta the contract still open, the entire corporation forward Connection Pilots Alliance. pilot groups have more work and make SkyWest, Inc., and They have worked closely with ahead. After that, seniority list all of its pilot groups a leading other pilot integration will begin. force in this industry and to groups, sharing information “Bringing together two raise the bar for all pilots, no and ideas. When Pinnacle groups under one contract matter what name is on their Airlines announced it had filed is never a simple task,” badges.” for bankruptcy, ASA pilots lent comments Capt. David Since last year, ASA has their support and recently Nieuwenhuis, the ASA pilots’ hired more than 75 pilots. In attended bankruptcy court MEC chairman. “Even under September, the company an- hearings in New York along the best of circumstances, nounced that it had entered with Pinnacle pilots. gaining consensus between into a four-year capacity- management and one pilot purchase agreement with group is a lengthy process. American Airlines. AtaGlance We’ve got two groups with Beginning in early 2013, n Pilots joined ALPA: 1977 different systems in place and the airline will be flying 11 n First ALPA contract: 1989 different histories—not to CRJ200s for American. These n Number of pilots: 1,477 mention different contracts. airplanes will be acquired n Headquarters: Atlanta, Ga. n Pilot bases: Dulles, Va.; Atlanta, We’ve made tremendous from the current Delta Ga.; and Detroit, Mich. progress, but we want to be system. The majority of the n Fleet: 112 CRJ200s, 46 CRJ700s, sure that we come away with flying will be out of Dallas/ and 10 CRJ900s a contract that satisfies our Ft. Worth (DFW). Eventually, Southeast Atlantic

20 Air Line Pilot January 2013 he pilots at Bearskin and loser in a disagreement. scheduling flexibility and other The Airlines and their It’s imperative to find com- inefficiencies within the opera- Tcompany are break- mon ground and consensus tion in exchange for better pay Pilots ing new ground, taking an when views and opinions and working conditions for its of unprecedented approach to differ. Open doors and lines pilots. “ALPA’s Economic and ALPA bargaining their fifth contract of communication have Financial Analysis Department and landing a quid pro quo proven to be the best way was paramount in the suc- 2013 agreement that benefits both of doing business and have cess of these negotiations,” the pilots and their airline. contributed to the ongoing Parnham says. In April 2012, the Bearskin success of our airline. The The MEC says that other Master Executive Council Bearskin MEC believes that than obtaining the latest Pilots Break (MEC) leaders—Capts. Dan a harmonious and respectful contract, it’s business as usual New Ground Parnham, Rob Marsh, and labour-management relation- at the airline, which expanded Steve Mauro—reached a ship is integral to the prosper- its fleet over the last year. Using tentative agreement with ity of any successful business. The airline purchased Interest- their company after only Case in point—Bearskin will four additional Fairchild seven months of main table celebrate its 50th anniversary Metroliners, bringing the Based bargaining. They credit the this July,” says Parnham, the all-Metro fleet to a total of 18. successful and expeditious pilots’ MEC chairman. The airplanes are equipped Negotiations negotiations, which included A commonsense approach with twin-turbine engines By Doug Baj improvements to pay and to reaching consensus, in and seat 19 passengers. More Manager, work rules for the pilots, cost addition to the MEC’s strong airplanes mean a need for Communications savings, and efficiency for relationship with company more pilots. “Attracting and Department the airline, to the forward- executives, helped achieve a retaining qualified pilots is a growing concern for both the MEC and the company,” says Parnham. The airline—which has its primary base of operation in Thunder Bay, Ont., and smaller bases in Winnipeg, Man.; Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont.; and Sioux Lookout,

WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Ont.—offers more than 100 One of Bearskin’s 18 Metroliners. scheduled daily departures to 18 destinations in Manitoba looking techniques they used. tentative agreement without and Ontario. The airline has In 2011, the MEC, which the pilots’ taking a strike vote established a niche market, also serves as the Negotiating or threatening a labour dis- providing smaller communi- Committee, proposed pute. And the pilots haven’t ties with service and fre- interest-based-negotiations filed a single grievance in quency typically only seen in (IBN) to the company. IBN the last eight years. The MEC larger cities. This commuter is a process by which both says it’s the positive relation- airline has found a recipe for parties discuss their issues ship with management that success that maintains profit- from a fact-based perspec- moves the airline in the ability into its 50th year of tive and work to resolve direction both sides want and operation. them as a team, creating an need. The MEC leaders also outcome that both sides can believe that their relationship support. The Bearskin pilots, will continue to allow them to assisted by ALPA’s Economic mitigate any potential labour- AtaGlance and Financial Analysis and management disputes, as n Pilots joined ALPA: 1997 (became Representation Departments, well as successfully navigate an ALPA-represented pilot group when CALPA merged with ALPA) were the first Canadian ALPA their objectives in the ever- n Number of pilots: 72 pilot group to successfully use changing airline industry. n Pilot bases: Thunder Bay, Ont.; the IBN process to complete The new four-year con- Winnipeg, Man.; Kitchener-Waterloo, their entire negotiations. tract—which at press time Ont.; and Sioux Lookout, Ont. n “There has to be give and was drafted and nearly ready Headquarters: Sioux Lookout, Ont. n Operations: Scheduled and charter take on both sides during for distribution to the pi- passenger service contract negotiations. There lots—includes cost savings for n Fleet: 18 Metroliners can’t always be a winner the company from increased Bearskin January 2013 Air Line Pilot 21 t Canada’s Calm Air, agement again announced to grow and prosper.” The an airline-wide refleet- it would lay off almost 10 Calm Air is one of the Aing project is making percent of the pilot group— four ALPA pilot groups with Pilots the carrier more modern, nine pilots—on December a representative on the new of more competitive, and bet- 9 because of economic pres- ALPA President’s Committee ALPA ter equipped to take on new sures, strong competition in for Remote Operations, which business, while also creating key markets, and difficulty is examining the unique chal- 2013 what’s hoped are only short- acquiring suitable aircraft to lenges airlines face working in term growing pains. replace the Saab fleet at a fast high Arctic regions in an effort The combination of seat enough rate. to improve service and safety. movement and training, It was a huge blow to the Some of the ideas being con- Refleeting unexpected layoffs, and pilot group, says Capt. Dan sidered include creating RNAV Leads to preparing for upcoming Cowan, the pilots’ MEC chair- approaches at every airport, contract negotiations has led man. “We offered many solu- improving approach lighting, Turbulence to unanticipated turbulence tions to keep our members and reducing the number of By Rusty Ayers for the close-knit pilot group, working, but unfortunately unpaved runways. Senior Communications which flies to northern the viable options were very Like many airlines that Specialist Manitoba and the Kivalliq limited,” Cowan observes. “We serve the Arctic, Calm Air was region of Nunavut from bases have not stopped trying to born as a bush pilot op- in Winnipeg and Thompson, find solutions. We’re told [our eration, using floatplanes to Man. furloughees] may be recalled serve remote fishing camps in Formerly an exclusively next spring, and we hope we the 1950s and 1960s. By the turboprop operation, Calm Air can bring all of them back.” 1970s, a boom in mining and hydroelectric power produc- tion in northern Manitoba brought rapid expansion to the airline. In 2009 Exchange Income Corporation (EIC), a Winnipeg- based , pur- chased Calm Air. EIC is rapidly expanding its airline holdings, having bought another carrier, Bearskin Airlines, whose pilots Calm Air’s Hawker Siddeley HS748 is configured for cargo only. ALPA represents, in 2011 and Custom Helicopters, Ltd. last added the first jets to its fleet Those same economic February. The company also in early 2012: two Dornier- pressures will also complicate owns Perimeter Aviation and Fairchild D328 jets brought the pilot group’s contract Keewatin Air. in to provide medical services negotiations. The current while flying under a contract five-year agreement expires with the territorial govern- at the end of April 2013, and AtaGlance ment of Nunavut. the Negotiating Committee n Pilots joined ALPA: 1997 In the summer, the airline began its preparations almost n Number of pilots: 95, with 9 on announced it was embarking a year earlier. furlough on a comprehensive fleet “We’ve had a strategic n Operations: Scheduled passenger renewal plan. All of Calm Air’s planning summit in June and cargo service throughout northern Manitoba and Nunavut, the newest Saab 340s would be replaced with our ALPA staff experts and largest territory in Canada, includ- with ATR turboprops as well and collective bargaining and ing destinations along the western as the D328s. At almost the Strategic Planning Committee shores of Hudson Bay and into the same time, management an- representatives from other high Arctic nounced it would be required ALPA Canada pilot groups. n Pilot bases: Thompson, Man., and Winnipeg, Man. to reduce pilot staffing levels. Our negotiators got a strong n Headquarters: Thompson, Man. The pilots’ Master Executive response from the pilot group n Fleet: 1 Hawker Siddeley HS748, Council (MEC) responded by in a contract survey in July,” 2 ATR 72s, 6 ATR 42s, and 2 30-seat working with the company says Cowan. “We’re ready to Fairchild Dornier D328 jets to negotiate voluntary leaves, get started bargaining for an n Fun fact: The name “Calm Air” was not chosen to embody smooth fly- which prevented forced agreement that will recognize ing—it’s an acronym of the founder’s reductions and layoffs. our pilots’ value to the airline initials: Carl Arnold Lawrence Morberg But in November, man- while enabling the company Calm Air 22 Air Line Pilot January 2013 lying in the northern- charters, and cargo and has hardships that come along The most territories of been with the airline since with flying in extremely chal- FCanada, Canadian North its beginnings, and the MEC lenging conditions. The pilot Pilots pilots transport daily both looks forward to working with group is also developing a of passengers and cargo in what Hankirk. post-accident/-incident check- ALPA most of us would consider With the ratification of list to supplement the infor- challenging conditions. Land- the most recent collective mation ALPA provides on its 2013 ings and takeoffs on remote bargaining agreement, the Worldwide Accident Hotline ice and gravel runways in the Canadian North pilots insti- “orange” card. The MEC pilot polar Arctic weather are the tuted a new credit system as representatives, through both norm for these pilots, whose part of the overall scheduling personal experience and Pilots distinctive skills are required process. “That’s probably member feedback, recognize Confront to “bend the throttles” for this the biggest positive change that there are issues specific unique airline. as far as lifestyle goes,” says to Canadian North operations Extreme Capt. Chris Kampen, the Kampen. “It has taken us out and that this new reference Weather pilots’ Master Executive of the previous max-blocking item will address the airline’s Council (MEC) chairman, system and is one of the big- fleet and the nuances of Conditions, says that his airline has been gest gains from our last round flying in Nunavut and the steadily hiring new pilots for of negotiations.” Northwest Territories. Scheduling this demanding operation Because of the nature of Along with these efforts, Challenges to fulfill its plans for expan- Canadian North flying, pilots the pilot group is ramping up sion. Canadian North has bid for days off and have its current communications By John Perkinson announced that it will acquire traditionally worked 18 or 19 efforts and plans to establish Staff Writer additional B-737-300s to days a month, depending on a website as a resource for Canadian North pilots some- A Canadian North B-737-300 time early in 2013. at Yellowknife. Sporting the slogan “Seriously Northern,” Canadian North was estab- lished in 1989 as a subsidiary of Canadian Airlines to provide air transportation for northern Canadian communities. The airline is owned by Norterra, an aboriginal-owned holding company divided between supplement its current fleet, whether it was a 30- or 31- the Inuvialuit Development which includes B-737-200s day month. The new system Corporation, representing and Dash 8-100s in addition provides pilots with more the Inuvialuit people of the to B-737-300s. credits for time away from western Canadian Arctic, F/O Wade Bowman, the base, allowing them to work and the Nunasi Corporation, MEC vice chairman, notes as few as 14 days a month representing the Inuit people that 19 new pilots were (although 16 to 17 days is of Nunavut. Canadian North added at the end of the third probably more common). The maintains its headquarters in quarter of 2012. MEC is also pressing for new downtown Yellowknife. With the next round of con- scheduling software, as the tract negotiations not set to current program is extremely begin until December 2014, outdated and pilot leaders the MEC is concentrating on would like to see the com- AtaGlance quality-of-life improvements pany move toward a system n Pilots joined ALPA: 2011 for its pilots. Facilitating that allows pilots to bid for n Number of pilots: 133 n Bases: Edmonton and Calgary, Alb. this effort is the reasonably actual trips. n Headquarters: Yellowknife, NT amicable relationship that On its to-do list for 2013, n Operations: Scheduled flights and labour and management the Canadian North MEC cargo services throughout Nunavut share. Steve Hankirk recently is working to establish a and the Northwest Territories, as well replaced Tracy Medve as Professional Standards as charter operations throughout Canada and the United States president of Canadian North. Committee to support pilots n Fleet: B-737-200s, B-737-300s, Hankirk has served as vice who need assistance in and Dash 8-100s president of operations, overcoming the additional Canadian North January 2013 Air Line Pilot 23 anJet pilots are keep- contract. When a collective ratification vote. At that time, The ing their spirits high agreement expires in Canada, the MEC plans to begin road Cthis season, flying it remains in effect until shows at pilot group bases in Pilots a new contract is ratified, Halifax, N.S.; Montreal, Que.; of passengers to sunny vacation destinations in the Caribbean, except in a situation in which Toronto, Ont.; and Vancouver, ALPA Mexico, and beyond while the employees strike or B.C., to discuss the TA. also navigating contract nego- the employer locks out the The group’s Pilot-to-Pilot 2013 tiations with the company. employees. Otherwise, the (P2P) communications— “I think, for the most part, employer cannot unilaterally which are a key part of their we are being realistic about change or modify the working strategic plan—will also play what we can achieve,” says conditions in the contract an important role in informing Pilots Capt. Alex Sirros, the pilots’ during the negotiations the pilots about the TA. P2P Navigate Master Executive Council process. In the United States, pilot representatives will have (MEC) chairman. “Our goal is contracts under the Railway face-to-face discussions with Negotiations to get a fair contract for our Labor Act do not expire. crewmembers on the line, in By Jessie Cornelius members while ensuring that Instead, they become amend- crew rooms, and at airports to Public Relations the company maintains the able and remain in place until provide factual information Specialist flexibility it needs to continue an amended agreement is from the MEC and an open its operations successfully.” negotiated or the National forum for asking questions The pilots are making prog- Mediation Board releases the and getting answers. P2P has ress in what have been parties to self-help. been under way during the negotiations process. Another key aspect of the pilots’ communication plans is a new branding initiative. With the help of ALPA’s Communications Department, the pilots are unveiling a new look that will reflect their unity and their work. The brand- ing will be included in the pilots’ e-mail updates known as “PayDay Hotlines,” the website, newsletters, presenta- tions, and social media tools Capt. Alex Sirros, MEC chairman, heads to Cuba in 2012. that the MEC is considering using to better connect with deemed smooth but tricky The CanJet pilots are the pilot group. negotiations. optimistic that they will keep “Unity is our focus,” notes After seven negotiat- negotiations moving forward Sirros. “We need to maintain ing sessions—which in 2013 and out of arbitra- positive relationships and officially kicked off on tion or litigation, which can break down any barriers Feb. 20, 2012—the pilots’ severely delay the process and that exist between us and Negotiating Committee has turn control of the outcome management. At the end of made considerable headway over to a third party. The the day, our goals are all the on administrative items, MEC says that negotiations, same—both ours and man- which have been tentatively so far, have been smooth and agement—to have a success- agreed to, and plans to begin productive. ful company that we can work addressing financial aspects, “ALPA gives us the tools at for a long time.” including salary and per diem, that we need,” says Sirros. this year. The pilots’ current “From negotiations to contract, which was ratified in strategic planning to commu- AtaGlance May 2008, expired at the end nications, the ALPA support n Pilots joined ALPA: 2006 of March 2012. system is in place and always n Number of pilots: Approximately While the labour laws in there for us.” 130 Canada are different from Once the negotiations n Operations: Provides subcontract- ing services to vacation charter those in the United States, are complete and a tenta- airlines collective bargaining agree- tive agreement (TA) is n Fleet: 5 B-737-800s and 7 B-737- ments are treated similarly announced, the agreement 800s leased during high season upon reaching the end of a will be sent to the pilots for a CanJet 24 Air Line Pilot January 2013 he dedication and hard believed that the CCIA crew- to management. This will The work of the Capital members needed a thorough complete ALPA’s primary T Cargo International JCBA briefing as the contract TPA obligations and allow Pilots Airlines (CCIA) crewmembers is based mainly on the ATI management to complete the of in the face of economic and agreement with important regulatory requirements in ALPA operating challenges they modifications, including merging operations. confronted in 2011 did not new pay rates for the B-757 As the year closed, un- 2013 go unnoticed by parent com- freighter and the B-757 fortunate news came to the pany Air Transport Services combi, dual qualification on crewmembers as manage- Group, Inc. (ATSG). In 2012, the B-757 and B-767, expedi- ment parked the remaining ATSG focused on eliminating tious transition of CCIA B-727 aircraft and delayed an A Year of redundant costs and provid- crewmembers to ATI, and additional B-757 joining the Change for ing a stronger, more secure some other CCIA provisions fleet in an attempt to reduce workplace by merging Capital that the parties recognized costs and weather the tough Crewmembers Cargo with another of its as beneficial to the larger economic storm. This decision By Tawnya Burket airlines, Air Transport Interna- group. resulted in more than 40 Communications tional (ATI). In September, the pilot furloughs, which included all Specialist Although early conversa- groups jointly ratified the of the airline’s flight engineers. tions between the two JCBA by 63 group’s pilot leaders and percent vot- management began in ing in favor. February, ATSG didn’t publicly “It was ap- ) go

announce the merger until parent to the ar C

May 10, 2012. The merger crewmem- al apit

pace intensified after the bers that this (C athis

parties negotiated a transi- agreement M

tion and process agreement would teve . ap

(TPA) with management that eliminate the C t S streamlined the merger’s pro- whipsawing Capt. George Savage and F/O Curtis Waldeck gression, which was ratified against each performing a preflight check in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 29 by 90 percent of other, which before their flight to Nashville, Tenn. CCIA’s voting crewmembers. drove down The TPA first required unity, pay, and quality-of “We received some dev- both the crewmembers’ and life-issues. It also produces astating news from manage- management’s negotiating a larger, unified pilot group ment and while we knew this teams to begin joint collective that will speak with a stron- day was coming, no one knew bargaining agreement (JCBA) ger voice than two smaller it was coming so quickly,” says expedited negotiations in groups,” says F/O Chuck Hill, Hill. “I am hopeful that this June and concluded with an the CCI MEC chairman. “Our setback is temporary and that agreement-in-principle in future is at a combined ATI once the economy and ATI early August. The CCI MEC that provides management recovers and grows, everyone then unanimously approved with the means to run a will have the opportunity to sending the agreement to the single, secure airline with return to work.” crewmembers for member- room for growth.” ship ratification. The ATI The TPA similarly required MEC mirrored the CCI MEC’s an aggressive schedule for AtaGlance actions. integrating the two senior- n Pilots joined ALPA: 2007 A planning meeting with ity lists. Direct integrated n Number of crewmembers: 115, the ATI MEC and ALPA’s seniority list (ISL) negotiations with 68 on furlough Representation Department began in August and were n Headquarters: Orlando, Fla. and Communications followed in September by n Operations: Capital Cargo is an Department staff then meetings with a mediator/ar- aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) carrier that provides focused on preparing edu- bitrator. The MECs submitted airport-to-airport cargo transporta- cational information about final written arguments to the tion services both domestically and the JCBA. That meeting arbitrator on October 15. internationally lasted two days in Arlington, The CCIA crewmem- n Crewmember bases: Home-based Tex., where a road show bers patiently await the n Hub city: Cincinnati, Ohio n Fleet: Currently operates B-757- schedule, presentation, and arbitrator’s issuance of the 200 PCFs—all aircraft are freighter informational packet were integrated seniority list, conversions developed. The MEC strongly which will then be presented Capital Cargo January 2013 Air Line Pilot 25 or an airline pilot, “pro- identifying areas in which of new hires with limited The ficiency” is defined in a contractual language needed flight hours. To help build Fnumber of ways: aircraft clarification or improvement. proficiency, the committee Pilots Through their efforts, the developed a detailed Dash of and operational knowledge, mastery of flying the airplane, pilots were able to negotiate 8-Q200/Q300 study guide and ALPA good CRM skills, and a profes- several letters of agreement quick reference guide, as well sional bearing. Most of these (LOA), including a vacation as a mentoring program for 2013 traits are not natural skills but LOA that clarifies and im- all new hires and upgrades so must be learned. proves the annual vacation that they have a pilot to turn That same learning curve bidding process. In addition to to with questions or issues on applies to union-building—a the LOAs, the MEC made sure the line. Building successful and unified pilot pilots facing disci­pline had Other active volunteers Proficiency group is built not in a day, but their newly negotiated due were those on the Scheduling over time, through attention process rights up­held, prevent- Committee. Trained on the By Rusty Ayers to detail and doing the little ing arbitrary management company’s trip-building soft- Senior Communications things right. After five years disciplinary actions. ware, the committee helped Specialist of ALPA membership, the An MEC is fortified by its create less fatiguing, more CommutAir Master Executive committees and as such, com- commuter-friendly trips. When Council (MEC) is demonstrat- mittee members collaborated management opened a third ing its proficiency in repre- with management on issues pilot domicile, the MEC and senting its pilots, many of the committee convinced the whom are first-time members company to move the base of the Association. from Syracuse, N.Y., to Dulles, “CommutAir is the first Va. airline job many of our mem- A looming challenge facing bers have ever had,” explains the CommutAir group in 2013 Capt. Todd Harris, the pilots’ is its future relationship with

) United Airlines, where the

MEC chairman. “It’s also their ir A first time being union mem- United-Continental merger is ommut

bers. Our mission as an MEC (C putting many regional part- is to help our people learn nerships in transition. estbrook

to become the best possible W “We feel we’re well

att positioned to succeed. We pilots and ALPA members so . ap that they can get their careers C t continue M to add pilots, we are off to a good start.” Dash 8 Capt. Peter Sik. profitable and cost-effective, CommutAir pilots joined and the union continues to ALPA in mid-2008 and almost great and small in 2012: join- show its value both to our immediately began work ing the Known Crewmember® members and to the company on getting their first union program, getting pilots out of by helping make our operation contract. After several years of substandard hotels, and creat- as productive as possible,” says bargaining, the pilots negoti- ing safe zones around aircraft Harris. “We hope United feels ated a collective bargaining operating in busy, congested the same way and gives us agreement that took effect on ramp areas like those at IAD even more responsibility as it Dec. 1, 2011. and EWR. grows.” They were among the The newly created lowest-paid turboprop pilots Critical Incident Response in the U.S., but their new Program (CIRP) Committee AtaGlance contract raised salaries to came into existence just n Founded: 1989 near industry standards while before superstorm Sandy n Number of pilots: Approximately giving them more time off hit, acting immediately to 190 and securing other benefits support members who were n Pilots joined ALPA: 2008 n Headquarters: South Burlington, Vt. and work rule improvements. potentially affected by the n Pilot bases: Cleveland, Ohio; Throughout 2012, the hurricane. All pilots who lived Newark, N.J.; and Dulles, Va. CommutAir Contract within 100 miles of EWR n Operations: CommutAir flies to Implementation Team began were contacted to ensure more than 25 cities in the Midwest, the complex but necessary the safety of the pilots and Northeast, and Canada under a capacity-purchase agreement with work of fine-tuning and their families. CommutAir’s United Airlines enforcing the new agreement. Training Committee is keenly n Fleet: 16 37-seat Dash 8-Q200s The team met with manage- focused on professional and 5 50-seat Dash 8-Q300s ment on a regular basis, development, especially that CommutAir 26 Air Line Pilot January 2013 he pilots of Compass 265 days of negotiations, the the arbitrator decides are The Airlines are the latest unresolved issues (no more industry-standard pay rates Tgroup to embrace the than 20 issues per side) will and work rules. Pilots concept of fast-tracking the be submitted to the arbitrator “The big question is of negotiations process in or- for a final and binding award, whether the 330-day clock is ALPA der to bring positive change to be issued no later than realistic,” Schultz notes. “We faster than the traditional Nov. 25, 2013. are committed to bargain 2013 Section 6 process. However, a lot has changed within the time constraints, In November 2012, the since the ink dried on the and we hope management Minneapolis-based airline original Northwest agree- is prepared to do so as well. exchanged contract openers ment. Northwest merged with Anything that keeps the nego- Liftoff, and with the pilots, and the two Delta, and Compass became tiations from dragging on for The Clock Is sides began direct negotia- a Delta subsidiary. Then in years should be welcomed by tions in December. But the 2010, Delta sold the airline to both sides.” Running structure of the talks is radi- St. Louis-based Trans States Compass is one of the By Rusty Ayers cally different from the usual Holdings, which owns Trans top performers in the Delta Senior Communications bargaining track, thanks to States Airlines and GoJet, system, operating Embraer Specialist an unusual caveat that dates whose pilots ALPA does not aircraft of similar size and from Compass’s birth almost represent. flying routes similar to those six years ago. Compass remains a Delta once flown by Northwest’s Compass was originally Connection airline, and al- Douglas DC-9s. created as a wholly owned most half the pilot group has “It’s a stretch to call us a subsidiary of Northwest ‘regional’ carrier, because like Airlines, and the former many of the fee-for-departure Northwest Master Executive airlines, we are doing Council (MEC) negotiated everything the its current contract in 2007. does—we fly internationally The contract included a let- and transcontinentally using ter of agreement (LOA) that mainline-gauge aircraft, doing requires Compass and its everything the DC-9s used to management to enter media- do,” says Schultz. tion-arbitration to amend its While other regional current collective bargaining airlines have merged or con- agreement, instead of using tracted, Compass continues to the typical Railway Labor Act expand. The airline is slowly contract model. adding new-hire pilots to the “While mediation-arbitra- group, which is organized in tion is often used for settling seniority blocks under the grievance cases, bargaining an aegis of ALPA’s Council 19. entire contract via mediator- arbitrator is a novelty for an ALPA pilot group. The AtaGlance process demands a clearly Capt. Ryan Breznau is one of n Founded: Compass Airlines was defined time line,” says Capt. three pilot negotiators who created as a Dan Schultz, the pilots’ MEC will be conducting Compass’s subsidiary and began operations on chairman. fast-track contract talks. May 2, 2007 n “Under the terms of the Pilots joined ALPA: 2007 n Number of pilots: 440 flow-up rights to Delta under LOA, our direct bargaining n Sale and acquisition: On July 1, with the company will last no a previous flow agreement. 2010, sold Compass longer than 175 days from A fast-track negotiation to , Inc., which Dec. 11, 2012, and the entire could be beneficial for the is running it separately from its other bargaining cycle should be Compass pilots, since Trans airlines, Trans States and GoJet n Operations: More than 190 flights completed by the end of this States Holdings is notorious daily to 57 destinations throughout year,” explains Schultz. for its drawn-out bargaining. the United States and Canada as Delta If no agreement is reached But there are challenges as Connection by 175 days after the start well: if the process goes to n Pilot bases: Minneapolis–St. Paul, of direct negotiations, the arbitration, the arbitrator’s Minn., and Detroit, Mich. n Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minn. award could be based on company and the pilots will n Fleet: 36 Embraer E175s and 6 engage in mediation with management’s last offer, the Embraer E170s a mediator-arbitrator. After union’s last offer, or whatever Compass January 2013 Air Line Pilot 27 or Continental pilots, became the first U.S. airline follows policy outlined The 2012 culminated in to fly this aircraft. The Conti­ in ALPA’s Administrative Fthe joint ratification of nental pilot ranks grew as Manual, Section 45, as well Pilots furloughed United pilots, as the provisions negotiated of a joint collective bargaining agreement (JCBA) with United fondly nicknamed “U-hires,” between the two pilot groups ALPA pilots, a considerable feat in were welcomed into the in a protocol agreement itself, and an important step cockpits. developed at the time the 2013 toward becoming a single, uni- As 2013 unfolds, the merger was announced. The fied pilot group. The achieve- Continental pilots will increas- integration follows a defined ment was significant, given ingly see the benefits of these time line designed to begin the more than two and half efforts and their unity with arbitration (if necessary) no Continental, years spent in negotiations for United pilots through the later than 140 days from the United Pilots the JCBA and the enormity of JCBA, following gains in pay date of the tentative agree- combining two disparate con- rates, per diem, retirement ment. Continental pilots and Begin a New tracts into a single agreement plan contributions, and other United pilots will be joined on Chapter that would be acceptable to increases that became ef- a single, integrated seniority all United pilots in this merger fective retroactively to Nov. list—another large step closer By ALPA Staff of equals. The task, critical to 30, 2012. The other parts to complete unity and well on the successful creation of the of the agreement, including their way to solidifying their world’s largest airline, was un- industry-leading provisions in position as a leading pilot matched in complexity, even scope, work rules, and retire- group within the industry. when compared to previously ment and benefits, as well as If the past is any indicator record-setting airline mergers. the new FAR Part 117 regula- of the future, the future for The result was an industry- Continental pilots will be both leading contract that provides challenging and rewarding substantial benefit to both as the merger with United Continental and United pilots, is finally completed. Work and advances the airline pilot- remains, but the last steps are ing profession by setting new being completed to interlace standards for other airlines to the strands of both groups use as the basis for their own into a new fabric that is stron- negotiations. ger and more vibrant. Contracts of this value do Says Capt. Jay Pierce, the not come easily. They require Continental pilots’ MEC chair- strategic planning, commit- Capt. Jay Pierce, the Conti­ man, “Most everything of ment, and a unified effort, nental­ pilots’ MEC chairman. value is the product of hard such as the tremendous show work and sacrifice. I cannot of unity by Continental and tions, will be implemented sufficiently thank the pilots United pilots in July 2012 as on a defined schedule and ALPA staff who have they overwhelmingly granted under the guidance of a joint worked so hard and given so their union leaders authoriza- implementation team, staffed much over the years to get tion to strike, with 99 percent in equal part by ALPA pilots. this contract done. I am con- of those voting in favor of (United management agreed fident that the day is upon us the authorization. This vote to implement FAR Part 117 where we are not Continental followed many months of in conjunction with the new and United pilots, but truly joint efforts, including infor- agreement, ahead of the fed- all United pilots, standing mational picketing, family erally mandated January 2014 together.” awareness events, legislative implementation date.) The efforts, news media commu- undertaking and its results nications, and other actions will be no less significant than AtaGlance that were designed to exert the achievement of the initial n Pilots rejoined ALPA: 2001 leverage during negotiations agreement in moving the n Number of pilots: 5,019 n Pilot bases/hubs: Newark, N.J.; and demonstrate the depth Continental and United pilots Houston, Tex.; Cleveland, Ohio; Guam; of solidarity between the two forward toward a new future. Los Angeles, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; and pilot groups. The Continental Master Chicago, Ill. The year was also signifi- Executive Council (MEC) n Headquarters: Chicago, Ill. cant for Continental pilots in Merger Committee will n Fleet: B-787-8s/-9s, B- 777-200ERs, B-767-200ERs/-400ERs, other ways. With the delivery continue on a parallel path B-757-200s/-300s, and B-737-500s/- of the first B-787 Dreamliners, toward integrating the two 700s/-800s/-900s/-900ERs United Continental Holdings seniority lists. The process Continental 28 Air Line Pilot January 2013 n 2012, the Delta pilot group itself in early 2012. As Capt. National Mediation Board The endorsed a game changer in Tim O’Malley, the pilots’ becomes involved, the time Ithe form of a ratified collec­ MEC chairman, explained line can be substantially Pilots tive bargaining agreement, in a letter to Delta pilots, lengthened and more people of Contract 2012, which improved “We believe opportunities who care less about pilot is- ALPA pay, work rules, and career exist—right now—to reach a sues become involved at each opportunities more than six comprehensive agreement on step along the way. 2013 months before the contract’s an expedited time line, but let Therefore, expediency in amendable date. Among the me make this point perfectly capitalizing on a favorable hallmark details that led to clear. While we will attempt to advantage was the soundest the successful negotiations expedite the process, we will strategy to yield the most posi- Pilot Contract and ultimate ratification were not compromise the product.” tive results in a timely manner. 2012: A Game preparation, flexibility, an early By early March, 10 months In his letter endorsing the opener, an intense eight weeks ahead of the amendable date, tentative agreement, O’Malley Changer of negotiations, and a ratified the MEC was prepared to summarized, “When viewed in By Kelly Regus agreement. enter negotiations. The MEC the aggregate, this [contract] Senior Communications Initial preparations began approved a contract opener represents a huge win for the Specialist in January 2011. Early strategy and directed the Negotiating Delta pilots, particularly in the included contract modifica- Committee to engage with areas of scope, sick leave, and tions resulting from the joint management. O’Malley wrote reserve work rules.” Scheduling Optimization to the pilot members an ambi- Team and ongoing problem- tious statement, “We chose solving negotiations, working not to wait.” The goal was an with senior executives on high- expedited, comprehensive level business discussions, and agreement. engaging the pilot group in an Third, critical to the pilot informational and educational education process was the aj

effort. These three aspects set Delta Pilot Network (DPN), B oug the table in case the right op- which provided opportunities D portunity to negotiate a new to share information with the F/O Len Empie, MEC Aviation contract presented itself. goal of building unity through Security Committee vice First, the optimization pilot unity building, or PUB, chairman, passes through team concept capitalized on tours across the country in the Known Crewmember® the opportunity to achieve which pilots interacted with checkpoint at Hartsfield- meaningful mid-contract each other, ALPA, and DPN Jackson International Airport. improvements in an effort to leaders. clear away the underbrush, The MEC also emphasized even though these improve- accessibility to informa- AtaGlance ments were of the magnitude tion. DPN and Pilot-to-Pilot n Number of pilots: 11,997 that normally would have maintained a Frequently n Joint ventures and alliances: been negotiated during Asked Questions database. Delta is the founding member of the Section 6 negotiations. For Additionally, the MEC dis- SkyTeam Alliance and participates in joint ventures with Air France-KLM- this reason, the optimization seminated more than 1 mil- Alitalia and Virgin Australia team concept remains valu- lion pages of printed material n Operations: Delta and its Con- able even after reaching the to pilots and their families, nection carriers fly to more than 331 recent agreement. and LEC representatives destinations in 60 countries on six Second, the Master remained available in pilot continents n Pilot bases: Atlanta, Ga.; Cincin- Executive Council (MEC) lounges around the clock, all nati, Ohio; Detroit, Mich.; Los Angeles, was on the lookout for the with the goal of providing the Calif.; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; right strategic opportunity correct information necessary New York City; Salt Lake City, Utah; to open and leverage nego- for the members to make an and Seattle, Wash. tiations, recognizing that a informed decision by the end n Hub cities: Amsterdam; Atlanta; Cincinnati; Detroit; Memphis, Tenn.; well-developed, efficient plan of June, just 3½ months after Minneapolis–St. Paul; New York (JFK); would most likely yield more negotiations began. Paris (CDG); Salt Lake City; and Tokyo meaningful gains than the Section 6 negotiations (Narita) traditional long, drawn-out often take years to complete, n Headquarters: Atlanta, Ga. Section 6 process. The MEC during which the probability n Fleet: More than 700 mainline air- planes: A319s, A320s, A330s, B-737s, spent much of its time in increases that external stra- B-747s, B-757s, B-767s, B-777s, strategic planning, and the tegic and economic events DC-9s, MD-88s, and MD-90s right opportunity revealed will affect negotiations. If the Delta January 2013 Air Line Pilot 29 he crewmembers of Notwithstanding pay between the parties remains The Evergreen International increases, no concessions in under the supervision of the TAirlines continued their the key business travel areas NMB, with which the MEC Pilots of the contract, and manage- and ALPA will consult to of battle to secure a new contract in 2012 after being in negotia- ment’s attendance at road determine future steps. ALPA tions for eight years—many shows to explain the compa- Similar to other airlines of which were in mediation ny’s dire financial condition, in the cargo arena that are 2013 conducted by the National pilots again voted against the struggling with the current Mediation Board (NMB). agreement—this time by an economy, Evergreen decided The pilots rejected the 80 percent margin—in late to park its B-747 Classic fleet first tentative agreement November. in December, which triggered The Future in 2010 by a 96 percent “The members have additional furloughs—includ- Remains margin because, based on the spoken, and they have refused ing its remaining professional company’s financial condi- to accept the proposed agree- flight engineers. In Doubt tion, it lacked pay increases. ment. There is too much doubt “This is a very sad time By Tawnya Burket Company finances continued in their minds to trust manage- and an end of an era,” says Communications to deteriorate and negotia- ment, with Evergreen making Touchette. “Each flight engi- Specialist tions remained at a standstill late payments on payroll neer has always performed in 2012 until March, when and to vendors, furloughing his or her duties in the most the crewmembers’ Master more than half of the crew- professional manner that I ) vergreen (E himene C laude . ap C t C This photo of Mt. Etna in Siganella, Sicily, was taken during a period of frequent volcanic activity from the outside of one of Evergreen’s B-747-200s.

Executive Council (MEC) members, and training delays have ever witnessed. We have Negotiating Committee occurring because of financial laughed together, we have informally explored ideas that constraints,” says Capt. James cried together, and we have might provide avenues to a Touchette, the crewmembers’ succeeded together. They will contract that included pay MEC chairman. “We will all be missed.” increases. On September 11, remain unified as we await the NMB resumed media- direction from the NMB and tion in Washington, D.C., to ALPA officials, and continue AtaGlance attempt to close out the last down the path to achieving a n two open issues, compensa- contract that will satisfy the Flightcrew members joined ALPA: 2007 tion and business-class travel. needs of the pilot group.” n Number of flightcrew members: While a comprehensive agree- The current contract signed 214, with 135 on furlough ment couldn’t be reached, between TAG (the pilots’ n Headquarters: McMinnville, Ore. pilot leaders agreed to put out previous independent labor n Pilot base: New York (JFK) n for pilot ratification manage- organization) and the airline Operations: With a fleet of 5 B-747s, Evergreen specializes in ment’s last offer. It included in 1999 remains in effect, charter and contract freighter opera- pay increases in year two and as do all subsequent letters tions around the globe three of the three-year offer. of agreement. Bargaining Evergreen 30 Air Line Pilot January 2013 everal airline mergers sections, and all sections have accumulated before the The and other types of air- been opened for discussion. merger has been addressed, Sline transactions have Negotiations ceased for a and any new grievances filed Pilots occurred in the past few brief period in mid-2012 so are typically dealt with in a of years, and throughout the that each of the three parties timely manner. ALPA U.S. airline industry continued could evaluate their bargain- In December 2012, the consolidation will be the wave ing priorities and positions. ExpressJet MEC met to assess 2013 of the future. For the pilots JCBA discussions have since the current situation and de- of ExpressJet, the news that resumed, and the parties termine the course for achiev- SkyWest, Inc., was again court- have made progress in some ing the goals established by ing their company and subse- additional areas. the pilot group. Key to their Focused on quently announced in 2010 Over the past year, pilot strategy is communications. Securing the a merger with its subsidiary, leaders have also worked with The MEC has made a Atlantic Southeast Airlines, management to harmonize fundamental shift in the way Future came as no surprise. their systems and programs. it keeps the pilots informed. By Lydia Jakub ExpressJet had long since With scheduling, for example, Pilot leaders are working to Senior Communications distinguished itself as a leader management was interested provide line pilots with as Specialist within the regional airline in moving the line bid process much information as possible industry and was looking to a preferential bidding sys- on where issues stand in the to further its legacy. Pilot tem as is done for the Atlantic bargaining process. This, they leaders, while optimistic that Southeast operation. The believe, will help the pilot the merger would provide ExpressJet pilots investigated group better understand the additional opportunities all available programs and negotiating process and end for long-term success, were worked to bring the one that result. Members will also best met their have more opportunities to needs to the speak directly with their union pilot group leaders, ensuring that they for testing. are informed and prepared to That program take action when called upon. is currently Family Awareness events were being used held at venues near each of for phase- the pilots’ four bases in 2012, two bidding and more events will be held F/O Joe Costanza prepares for a flight at to provide throughout 2013 in areas with Newark International Airport. reserve pilots a high pilot population. with some “We’re committed to the determined to protect their control over their schedules. success of the new ExpressJet pilots’ interests throughout Additionally, management Airlines,” Grable says. “It was the process. Now two years has leaned on the pilot group formed to be a powerhouse into the merger, neither their for support with its employee within the industry. As we focus nor their commitment assistance programs after work collaboratively to fulfill has wavered. some corporate staff cuts this objective and protect “Our pilots are our high- resulting from the merger. our pilots’ interests, the resul- est priority,” says Capt. Chris The ExpressJet pilots’ Pilot tant airline will attract and Grable, chairman of the pilots’ Assistance program is highly retain business and qualified Master Executive Council regarded and serves as a professionals so that all may (MEC). “We are, among other model for employees helping prosper.” things, working to secure their fellow employees. Work the right contract for the was done to develop training, collective pilot group—one protocols, and procedures AtaGlance that recognizes pilot contribu- to meet the needs of the tions, protects pilot jobs, and combined employee group. n Pilots joined ALPA: 2004 n Number of pilots: More than 2,800 improves the quality of life for Through this program, pilots n Operations: Flies as United all our pilots.” and other employees are get- Express to 42 states plus destinations Currently in negotiations ting the help they need at a in Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean for a joint collective bargain- time when they need it most. n Pilot bases: Chicago, Ill.; Cleveland, ing agreement (JCBA), the Contract enforcement and Ohio; Houston, Tex.; and Newark, N.J. n Headquarters: Atlanta, Ga. parties have reached tenta- education efforts, meanwhile, n Fleet: 249 airplanes, including tive agreements on more also remain high priorities. ERJ135s and ERJ145s than half of the contract The backlog of issues that ExpressJet January 2013 Air Line Pilot 31 t the close of 2011, the that we were at the table with This legislation would advance The FedEx Express Master the company also enabled ALPA’s campaign for “One AExecutive Council us to tackle a number of Level of Safety” for pilots by Pilots unexpected issues associated directing the Department of of (MEC) knew several issues would need to be addressed with the newest FedEx foreign Transportation to apply the ALPA beginning in 2012. The new duty assignment, Cologne, FAA’s flight- and duty-time year began with an important Germany. Considering that regulations and minimum rest 2013 decision—should the pilots our amendable date is Feb. requirements to all-cargo op- elect to accept the 12-month 25, 2013, we are pleased with erations in the same way that extension to their agreement our position and anticipate a the regulations currently apply ratified in 2011 or reject the timely conclusion to Section 6 to passenger operations. As we Pilots Meet extension and reenter Sec- bargaining,” notes Stratton. move into 2013, this issue will Challenges tion 6 negotiations? After Regarding the FAA’s new continue to keep FedEx pilots carefully considering survey flight-time/duty-time rules, engaged and fighting for One In 2012 and results and briefings from key the pilots were disappointed Level of Safety. Look to Build subject-matter experts, the by the government’s decision The 4,581 FedEx Express MEC unanimously decided to to exclude cargo operations pilots are spread across the On Past retain a 3 percent across-the- from the new modernized, globe, represented by seven board pay increase for 2012 science-based regulations. councils located in three Successes and maintain the current However, the FedEx MEC, domiciles as well as pilots as- In 2013 contract through March 2013. signed to foreign duty in Hong “The decision to extend Kong and Cologne, Germany. By Courtney Bland Understanding the com- Communications the agreement an additional Specialist 12 months aligned not only munication challenges that with the opinions of the a global pilot group presents, subject-matter experts but the MEC continues to engage also with our crewmembers. its members through a variety Notwithstanding this deci- of media designed to better

bland reach pilots, including interac- sion, the MEC unanimously believed that the remaining tive conference and video

contractual issues could not courtney calls, video messages, e-mails, wait years to be settled and F/O Amy Allen spends time a revamped website, and text therefore used the better part with one of the children at notification. The MEC office of 2012 to resolve outstanding Memphis Hope House during also underwent major con­struc­- issues through interim discus- the pilots’ annual visit. tion to provide more meeting sions,” says Capt. Scott Stratton, space and committee offices, the pilots’ MEC chairman. pilot volunteers, and ALPA all improvements designed to Extending the duration of national have been working better serve the pilots. the contract did not delay diligently to remove the cargo With more than 375 tackling contract issues. In “carveout” from the new rules. airports served worldwide, the fact, the company and Immediately following the an- airline has an extensive and ALPA met every six weeks nouncement, the MEC worked varied fleet. The pilots deliver

throughout 2012, pursuant extensively with ALPA’s leaders approximately 3.5 million to an interim discussion and the Government Affairs packages and 11 million model agreed to during the Department, along with key pounds of freight daily to 2010 negotiations. ALPA Scheduling and Legislative more than 220 countries and negotiators maintained the Committee experts, to develop territories, including every ad- MEC-sanctioned focus on a a course of action to urge the dress in the United States. limited number of core issues. FAA to adopt the same rules The result was good strategic for cargo operations as for positioning for 2013. “Our passenger operations. AtaGlance negotiators have steadily By spring 2012, Reps. Chip n Pilots joined ALPA: June 1993– worked their way toward the Cravaack (R-Minn.) and Tim 1996; rejoined ALPA in June 2002 pilots’ cornerstone objectives. Bishop (D-N.Y.) announced the n First ALPA contract: October 2006 They have had detailed introduction of the Safe Skies n Number of flightcrew members: discussions on a number of Act of 2012. “The introduction 4,581 n Headquarters: Memphis, Tenn. issues that our pilots deemed of this act speaks volumes n Fleet: 35 B-727s, 77 B-757s, 21 critical, and they did it while about the work being done B-777s, 71 A300s, 35 A310s, 69 every pilot enjoyed the ben- by ALPA and the FedEx MEC MD-10s, and 64 MD-11s efit of a pay raise. The fact legislative team,” Stratton says. FedEx Express 32 Air Line Pilot January 2013 t First Air, the pilots parade of airline executives This has motivated the The are currently facing have not reached agreement creation of ALPA’s new Athe challenge of man- on key issues. Federal concili- President’s Committee on Pilots agement turnover, as the ation also failed, and the MEC Remote Operations, aimed of revolving door of executives is now preparing to apply for at improving safety at rugged ALPA has forced the pilot leaders arbitration. airstrips ALPA pilots fly into in the past two years to work “We are not seeking major and out of in Alaska, Nunavut, 2013 with three different CEOs and increases, but we do need the Northwest Territory, and three flight operations vice cost-of-living raises since so the Yukon. Capt. Peter Black, presidents. many of us live in remote First Air’s MEC vice chairman, “There’s been no consis- areas. We are also trying to chairs the committee. Seeking tency whatsoever in the ex- make our work rules and Looking back over the past Consistency ecutive suite, and it’s made it other contract language more few years, joining ALPA was very difficult to get anything consistent with language one of the pilot group’s best By Rusty Ayers done,” says F/O Devin Lyall, contained in other ALPA pilot decisions, says Lyall. “Being Senior Communications the Master Executive Council group contracts,” says Lyall. members of ALPA gives our Specialist (MEC) chairman for the 142 In August, the crewmem- small group the resources to pilots and flight engineers. bers observed the first anni- effectively represent all of our “We can’t build relationships versary of the crash of Flight pilots and flight engineers. with our senior management, 6560, a B-737-200 combina- With this great support, we’ve whose first reaction when tion passenger/freighter that been able to remain strong a new CEO comes in is to crashed on approach to the and unified so that we can go restructure the operation and tiny airport at Resolute in to work and do our jobs like look for things to change. Nunavut Territory, 600 miles the professional flight crews we are,” he says. A First Air ATR 42 at Cambridge Bay Flying scheduled service Airport, Nunavut, Canada. to some of the most remote and inhospitable places on the planet, “the Airline of the North” provides a lifeline to a few dozen communities scattered across the Canadian Arctic and also flies cargo charters around the world.

WIKIPEDIA COMMONS The airline is wholly It’s really beginning to take north of the Arctic Circle. The owned by the Inuit people of a toll.” accident took the lives of all Quebec through the Makivik This frustrating inconsis- four crewmembers, as well Corporation, which spent tency, along with a tragic as eight passengers. Three much of 2012 trying to sell accident, increased competi- passengers survived. Canada’s the airline before it aban- tion, declining government Transportation Safety Board doned those plans. subsidies, stalled contract is still investigating the negotiations, and the recent accident. news of layoffs, has created The Flight 6560 crew left tension and uncertainty at behind seven young children, AtaGlance First Air. In November 2012, and all of ALPA has rallied to n Founded: 1946, as Bradley Air management announced support the children and their Service, now owned by Makivik Corporation plans to lay off more than 10 families. The pilots created an n Number of crewmembers: 142 percent of the airline’s flight aviation calendar that to date n Pilots joined ALPA: 2008 crews and close its B-737 base has raised almost $20,000 for n Pilot bases: Ottawa, Ont.; in Yellowknife, NT. the survivors’ education fund. Yellowknife, NT; Iqaluit, NU; and First Air flightcrew The Flight 6560 accident Edmonton, Alb. n Headquarters: Kanata, Ont. members joined ALPA more highlighted the realities of n Operations: Provides scheduled than four years ago with the Arctic flying, where modern passenger and cargo service between hopes of contract resolution. landing aids are rare. Most 30 northern communities plus charter However, they are still operat- of the runways in the polar service worldwide n ing under an old contract region are gravel at best and Fleet: 7 B-737-200s (four combi), 1 B-767F, 9 ATR 42-300s, 2 ATR after more than two years sometimes only temporary, 72-212s (all combi), and 2 Lockheed of negotiations because the bulldozed from the ice of a L-382 Hercules pilots and the ever-changing frozen lake or glacier. First Air January 2013 Air Line Pilot 33 f you want a great illustra- to fly to New Zealand. And just last month, the The tion of how management “We’re now seeing the MEC tentatively approved Iand labor work well togeth- result of some of our deci- an LOA that could add a Pilots completely new aircraft type: of er, you need look no further sions in years past beginning than , where to bear fruit,” says Capt. Rick the B-737 MAX or A320 ALPA a new atmosphere of pilot- Horne, the pilots’ Master NEO. If approved, the new management cooperation Executive Council (MEC) narrowbodies would expand 2013 has helped make the carrier chairman. “Working with service to the islands from one of the nation’s leading management has been a win- smaller mainland markets airlines. win for both sides, but some- that cannot be efficiently After the airline emerged times you need patience and served by widebody airplanes, Cooperation from Chapter 11 bankruptcy foresight to make it happen. and would also allow nonstop Pays Big in 2006, the company’s new We won’t always agree, but service from the mainland management began the we strive to develop creative to smaller island airports Dividends difficult task of rebuilding the solutions to the challenges like Maui and Kona to better By Rusty Ayers airline’s route structure and we face as the airline industry compete with rivals flying Senior Communications stabilizing its finances. Almost continues to change.” similar airplanes. Specialist three years of sometimes Hawaiian’s rapid growth The expansion has more contentious negotiations has been fueled in part by a than doubled Hawaiian’s ended with an industry- new equipment LOA the MEC pilot group since 2008. leading contract in January approved in 2008 that allowed Many of the new hires have 2010, and the pilots and CEO management to buy fuel- come from the former Aloha Mark Dunkerley have collabo- efficient A330 widebodies as Airlines, which ceased op- rated to bring Hawaiian to its a replacement for their aging erations that same year, and Hawaiian has also become a “carrier of choice” for pilots from many other airlines. “We have an incredibly diverse, talented group,” notes Horne. “One of our MEC’s current goals is to educate our newer pilots as to how much work went into achiev-

WIKIPEDIA COMMONS ing the contract we have and A Hawaiian Airlines -200 at Tokyo International get them more involved with Airport (Haneda ) in 2011. ALPA.”

strongest financial position in B-767s. The A330’s longer decades. range has enabled Hawaiian to AtaGlance Since contract ratifica- add destinations in Australia, n Number of pilots: 625 tion, the pilots’ Negotiating Japan, and South Korea. The n Headquarters: Honolulu, Hawaii Committee has continued to airline now flies nonstop from n Pilot bases: Honolulu and Seattle, Wash. work nonstop, achieving a to- Honolulu to JFK, has plans n Operations: Hawaiian operates tal of 19 letters of agreement to add additional East Coast more than 150 daily flights between (LOA) with management. destinations, and will have Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii. Many of these LOAs were trig- opportunities to increase its It offers nonstop service to the gered by the dramatic changes global route structure when its Hawaiian islands from 10 cities on the U.S. mainland and also has direct, in the airline’s route structure first A350 arrives in 2017. nonstop flights from Honolulu to as it has evolved from a luxury The airline is also focusing American Samoa, Tahiti, Australia, the niche player to a full-scale on its interisland operations. Philippines, South Korea, and Japan. international airline. In July 2012, Hawaiian an- In 2013 it will be the first U.S. airline Currently, Hawaiian is nounced it would be adding to fly to New Zealand and also plans to serve China in future years expanding in every sector of turboprops to establish a sub- n Fleet: 18 B-717-200s; 4 B-767- its operation: transpacific, sidiary airline serving smaller 300s; 12 B-767-300ERs; and 9 interisland, and international. islands not currently in its A330-200s, with 3 more to be deliv- It’s building a fleet of new system, including Molokai and ered. Firm orders: 6 A350-300X, to state-of-the-art airplanes, Lanai. The pilots authorized a be delivered 2017–2020. The airline is also acquiring 2 ATR 42-500s and is consistently hiring pilots turboprop operation in their wants to purchase as many as 12 every month, and soon will 2010 contract, which becomes B-737 MAXs or A320 NEOs become the first U.S. airline amendable in 2015. Hawaiian 34 Air Line Pilot January 2013 o further position itself only Dash 8-100s, so manage- to provide more flexibility to The as the leader in inter- ment’s plan to introduce new the company (while improv- Tisland travel by taking aircraft triggered a provision ing pilots’ quality of life), and Pilots advantage of the rebounding in the pilot contract to begin several changes intended to of travel industry in Hawaii and negotiations for appropriate provide management with ALPA new business opportunities, pay rates. The contract also some scheduling efficiencies Island Air spent much of states that if an agreement is and cost savings. 2013 2012 making changes from not reached by the in-service Meanwhile, the company the inside out. The company date, the issue will be pre- proposed current Dash 8 developed a new business sented to a neutral arbitrator (37-seat) pay rates for the ATR plan and appointed a new on an expedited basis, and 42, which has 47 seats; a 10 The Next executive team to implement the rates, once established, percent increase over current Phase of the plan, which includes a will be retroactive to the pay rates for the ATR 72, new brand image and a new in-service date. which has 66 seats; and other Interisland airplane fleet type. Since the company an- changes to pilot pay calcula- Travel In February 2012, the com- nounced its plans to refleet tions and work rules. pany announced its intent to earlier this year, MEC officers “The company cannot By Lydia Jakub introduce three ATR 72-212s and ALPA negotiators have expect our pilots to be paid Senior Communications into the fleet by the end of been meeting regularly with less for flying larger aircraft Specialist the year and three additional management to address and working longer hours,” ATRs in 2013. However, this issues arising from the new Vories says. “We are commit- was amended in September equipment and to provide ted to the success of Island 2012, and the company now pilot input on business op- Air and want it to prosper. plans to add a total of five portunities that management Our proposals have been reasonable, recognizing the challenges within the industry while allowing pilots, manage- ment, and other stakeholders to benefit from the refleeting. We stand by our goals and will continue working to achieve fair compensation and work rules for our pilots either through a consensual F/O Jonathan Bernath and Capt. Will Hall with their Dash 8. agreement with the company or arbitration.” ATR 42s. The airline took is considering. They are also It has become clear in delivery of the first in October working to secure an agree- recent months that securing 2012, and expects several ment with fair compensation a mutually acceptable agree- more through 2013 to replace and a reasonable quality of ment with management will the current fleet. life that covers all aspects of be challenging. Though not “We welcome the opportu- flying the new airplanes. This their preference, the pilots are nities that these new aircraft includes pay rates for the new fully prepared to move the is- will bring and are excited airplanes, how sick time and sue to expedited arbitration if to take advantage of the vacation time will be paid an agreement is not reached burgeoning interisland traf- and administered with the in the near term. fic,” says Capt. Monte Vories, new rates, training, and other chairman of the pilots’ Master related items. Unfortunately, Executive Council (MEC). these discussions have not AtaGlance “During the economic down- yet yielded a satisfactory n Pilots joined ALPA: 1989 turn, the company went into agreement. n Number of pilots: 50 survival mode and focused on The pilots’ goal is industry- n Operations: Approximately 36 daily flights plus charter service to seven its core business. Island Air is standard wage rates for airports throughout Hawaii now hiring and acquiring new similarly sized airplanes. In n Service: Island Air is Hawaii’s lead- aircraft. We are encouraged addition, they provided man- ing regional airline, serving airports on by these actions and hope agement with a comprehen- all major Hawaiian islands with 331 they are an indication of the sive proposal that included weekly flights between the islands of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, company’s intent to expand the resolution of several and the island of Hawaii upon our quality operations.” pending grievances, a duty n Fleet: 4 Dash 8-100s Island Air currently flies rig, several changes intended Island Air January 2013 Air Line Pilot 35 azz pilots are charting all stakeholders.” produced videos, and triannual The their own course, using One of those stakehold- MEC meetings are a core part Jtheir strategic plan as a ers is their company, Jazz of the pilots’ communications Pilots Aviation. The MEC has been efforts. The MEC members of guide to brighten their future and overcome challenges pre- working with management to also conduct meet-and-greet ALPA sented by a volatile industry. continue to improve their re- sessions at pilot bases to have The pilots’ Master Executive lationship. At MEC meetings face-to-face conversations 2013 Council (MEC) is committed last year, Jazz management with their pilots. to helping the airline become gave presentations on issues At the end of last year, the even more competitive in the ranging from operations to MEC was working through marketplace. The airline and crew scheduling. The MEC changes resulting from the Pilots Focus the pilots have doubled their and management also joined end of mandatory retirement On Building efforts to improve stakeholder forces to launch FLiCA, an in the federal jurisdiction of relationships and to keep po- innovative tool that gives Canada, which became effec- Relationships, tential new market opportuni- pilots the ability to be hands- tive Dec. 15, 2012. The pilots Working with ties in their purview. Although on with their schedules and had been planning for these the pilots were disappointed allows them to swap, add, major changes since last May. Stakeholders when Air Canada—their ma- and drop trips online. The An agenda item for late 2013 will be rejuvenating the By Jessie Cornelius jor customer—announced in improvement was part of the Public Relations October 2012 that it would be pilots’ industry-leading collec- pilots’ Negotiating Committee Specialist for the next collective bar- gaining round; their collective bargaining agreement expires on June 30, 2015. While the Jazz pilots realize that their biggest challenge will be for management to maintain a fair and equitable agreement with Air Canada, their goal is to retain an industry-leading contract that promotes the pilots’ quality of life and pro- vides them with job security Capt. Isabelle Caron and F/O Marie-Clair Beaulieu. at a viable airline. “The MEC will do every- transferring 15 Embraer 175 tive bargaining agreement. thing necessary to advance jets to Sky Regional Airlines “We believe in engaging the interests of the pilot as part of its plans to expand our members more in the group,” notes Buraglia. “I and diversify, the move has business at hand,” observes believe in the Jazz pilots and only strengthened the pilots’ Capt. Terry McTeer, the MEC that we have a lot of poten- resolve. vice chairman. “We’re also tial. I also believe that sooner “Jazz pilots have dem- looking to be prudent with or later, opportunity will cross onstrated the ability to be our members’ money and paths with that potential.” creative and innovative in providing them with the best other challenging circum- bang for their buck.” stances,” says Capt. Claude Reorganizing committees AtaGlance Buraglia, the pilots’ MEC so that they are more effective n Pilots joined ALPA: 1997 chairman. “Our goal is to and revamping communica- n Number of pilots: 1,521 convince our customers of tions with the help of ALPA’s n Operations: Jazz transports ap- the advantages, flexibility, Communications Department proximately 9.1 million passengers and value they have in utiliz- have been a key part of the annually on 800 daily flights to 82 ing Jazz’s full potential. With MEC’s stewardship. The destinations across Canada and the United States. regard to safety infrastruc- MEC provides regular online n Pilot bases: Vancouver, B.C.; ture, pilot experience, and communications to keep its Calgary, Alb.; Toronto, Ont.; Montreal, on-time performance, we coast-to-coast pilot group— Que.; and Halifax, N.S. have set the standard, and with bases stretching across n Headquarters: Halifax, N.S. we will continue to do so. We Canada from Vancouver, n Fleet: 127 aircraft, including Bom- bardier Dash 8-100/300s, Bombardier are a high-value airline. We B.C., to Halifax, N.S.—well CRJ 100/200/705s, and Bombardier will continue to reach out informed. MEC e-bulletins, Q400s. and work collaboratively with e-newsletters, online ALPA- Jazz

36 Air Line Pilot January 2013 reparing for contract relations with management grown or shrunk in the last The negotiations is a top in recent years. “We get along year,” notes Wynn-Williams. Ppriority for the pilots of quite well with the company,” “It’s been status quo.” Pilots Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd., a notes Wynn-Williams, who The MEC, also led by Capts. of Canadian executive charter says that “since 2009 when Derek Porter, chairman; ALPA and . Talks are we negotiated our latest Serge Fortier, secretary; and slated for 2014 (the contract agreement, we’ve gotten Kenneth Morrison, treasurer, 2013 expires October 31), and the better at working together.” has concentrated much of its pilot group has already begun With many pilot schedules effort on maintaining contract spooling up its communica- that include late-night and compliance and promoting a tions and contract studies early-morning hours, the MEC safe and secure operation. To Pilots Focus efforts, as well as grooming its is interested in adopting a fa- help with the former effort, On Upcoming Negotiating Committee mem- tigue risk management system the pilots instituted a dispute bers. The pilot group recently (FRMS) but is waiting to see tracking system to monitor Negotiations enlisted it first full-time com- what changes the Canadian and act on grievances in a By John Perkinson munications chair, F/O Mireille government will institute. The more timely basis. And the Staff Writer Pare, who is bilingual and will process to update fatigue rules airline can once again offer be overseeing the Master Ex- has been long and arduous. flight deck access to commut- ecutive Council’s (MEC) e-mail In the most recent phase, ing pilots from other Canadian updates, website, and other Transport Canada’s Canadian airlines, a benefit that hasn’t communications tools to keep Aviation Regulation Advisory been available since 9/11. the pilots informed. Council (CARAC) Technical Kelowna Flightcraft is Keeping Kelowna crew- Committee last fall reviewed Canada’s largest cargo airline. members educated and recommendations from the With its fleet of DC-10s, CARAC Flight Crew Fatigue B-727s, and Convair 580s, Management Working Kelowna touts its ability to Group. The CARAC Technical transport 1,000,000 pounds Committee then made these of air freight nightly across proposals public, encouraging the nation. The airline also

WIKIPEDIA COMMONS feedback from industry stake- has an executive charter A Kelowna Flightcraft B-727. holders like ALPA. division and forest-fire The challenge will be to patrols. In its other division, up-to-date about contract foster provisions that are Kelowna is a leading aircraft goals and the MEC activities tied to the latest science and maintenance operation and will be a challenge, as they are understanding about human signed two contracts in 2012 dispersed over a vast region. fatigue. The MEC is monitor- with WestJet to maintain and “Our pilots are spread out ing this situation closely to update the carrier’s B-737 over bases from as far east ensure that the final rule fleet. Kelowna’s Allied Wings as Halifax to as far west as does not contain a cargo Operation provides mainte- Vancouver and commute from “carveout,” as is the case in nance support to the Royal all corners of the country,” the United States. Canadian Air Force. says F/O Tim Wynn-Williams, With contract talks on the Last year, Kelowna contrib- the pilots’ MEC vice chairman. horizon, the MEC is consider- uted a B-727-100 to Mohawk “We’re not a large group, but ing all of its options. “At this College to assist its aviation we cover a lot of terrain.” point, we’re watching with program at Munro Hamilton The Kelowna pilots interest to see how other International Airport. are contemplating using negotiations are going for our interest-based negotiations fellow Canadian pilot groups (IBN) for this next round of like Wasaya,” Wynn-Williams bargaining. Wynn-Williams says. “We want to see what AtaGlance observes, “Part of IBN is the playing field is going to n Pilots joined ALPA: 1997 (became being able to have some sort look like.” an ALPA-represented pilot group when CALPA merged with ALPA) of civilized discourse with our Steady contracts with n Number of pilots: 125 employer as opposed to being Purolator Courier and Canada n Headquarters: Kelowna, B.C. at loggerheads.” Post have allowed Kelowna n Pilot bases: Hamilton, Ont.; Fortunately, the MEC, to maintain its fleet size and Vancouver, B.C.; Halifax, N.S.; Thunder which includes local staffing levels. “We’ve been Bay, Ont.; Regina, Sask.; Calgary, Alb.; and Kelowna, B.C. councils in Hamilton, Ont., replacing the people who’ve n Fleet: B-727s, Convair 580s, and and Vancouver, B.C., has left to pursue their careers DC-10s maintained positive labour elsewhere, but we have not Kelowna Flightcraft January 2013 Air Line Pilot 37 n an industry where “every- complex cases were mediated additional section, and all The thing matters,” the pilots of twice and were scheduled to but two sections have been IMesa Air Group are leaving go to arbitration in mid-2012. opened. As for grievances, Pilots By that time, the pilots only 21 cases were open as of of nothing to chance when it comes to their livelihoods. had also reached tentative early December 2012. ALPA They are working vigilantly agreements during their Along with these successes to protect and enhance the negotiating sessions with at the bargaining table and 2013 careers of all Mesa pilots and management on 11 of the 26 with the grievance process, using innovative methods to contract sections. the MEC is working to secure fulfill this mission. In 2012, In an unprecedented pilot jobs. Mesa’s current pilot leaders secured contract decision, the MEC approved code shares with United and Improvements improvements for the entire a settlement agreement that US Airways are set to expire For All Pilots pilot group and more than provided payment for pilots in 2015, as are contracts $325,000 for pilots whose downgraded out of senior- with other regional airlines. By Lydia Jakub rights had been violated by ity order and gains for all Recognizing the devastating Senior Communications the company’s management. Mesa pilots. This agreement effect a dramatic shift in Specialist “We are proud of the work included a $200,000 payment flying could have on pilot accomplished by our union to be divided among those on careers, the MEC has formed volunteers and pilot group, the affected pilots list, im- alliances with other ALPA and especially considering the mediate implementation of non-ALPA pilot groups flying state of our company and the 11 tentative agreements, in the United Express and resolving an additional four US Airways Express systems. grievances, establishing com- Through these and other mon negotiating protocols, efforts, they are working to and opening the company’s protect pilot careers and books to ALPA’s Economic provide a measure of stability and Financial Analysis within the industry. Department experts for re- “The regional airline in- view (an important provision, dustry is changing,” concludes as Mesa is privately held and Kolodziejczyk. “While we can­- F/O Jacob Clymo at Chicago contract negotiations were not know what the future may O’Hare International Airport. beginning to move into the hold, we will continue to build economic issues). upon our successes of 2012 the turmoil within the airline The tentative agreements, and forge a path for additional industry,” says F/O Marcin which became effective in July gains in 2013. We are also Kolodziejczyk, chairman of 2012, were all current book or prepared to address any chal- the pilots’ Master Executive better. Improvements include lenge or opportunity that may Council (MEC). “These suc- that (1) pilots must now be arise, from a transaction to cesses demonstrate our high provided a written state- a shutdown, and will stop at commitment to our pilots, ment of charges before any nothing to protect and ad- company, and profession.” company meeting and (2) an vance our pilots’ interests.” Negotiations for an enhanced commuter policy be improved contract began in established to help the nearly March 2010, just days after 80 percent of Mesa pilots who AtaGlance the company emerged from currently commute by allowing n Pilots joined ALPA: 1987 bankruptcy as a stand-alone the policy to now be invoked n Number of pilots: Approximately 800, including 211 on furlough airline. Though ALPA suc- twice annually and extending n Operations: cessfully protected the pilots’ it to offline/non-code-share includes go! and , and contract during the bank- partners. These contrac- operates as United Express and US ruptcy process, more than tual improvements—while Airways Express under contractual 400 pilots were furloughed, certainly incremental and agreements and independently as go! in Hawaii. Serves 96 cities, 37 states, and hundreds more were noneconomic—helped the Canada, and Mexico with 465 daily displaced and/or downgraded, pilots immediately, rather than departures taking pay cuts of as much as simply delaying implementa- n Bases: Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago, $34,000 per year. tion indefinitely until a new Ill.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Kahului, Hawaii; The way in which the contract has been completed. Lihue, Hawaii; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Washington, D.C. displacements were handled Since then, negotiating n Headquarters: Phoenix, Ariz. leading up to and during the progress has remained steady. n Fleet: 62 airplanes, including bankruptcy resulted in ALPA The parties have reached a CRJ200s, CRJ700s, and CRJ900s filing four grievances; these tentative agreement on an Mesa 38 Air Line Pilot January 2013 orth American Airlines Department, met with ments over the initial failed The (NAA) pilots are highly representatives from GLAH TA. On September 24, the Ntrained to face the and NAA in early March to pilots ratified the revised TA, Pilots challenges of daily flying into discuss issues related to the with 76 percent voting in favor of remote and dangerous loca- bankruptcy filing. ALPA’s of the agreement. In addition ALPA tions. Flying to Manas Inter- general counsel law firm, to minimizing concessions, the national Airport in Kyrgyzstan Cohen, Weiss & Simon, was new contract provides equity, 2013 and Kabul, Afghanistan, are enlisted to represent the profit sharing, a seat on the just two examples. pilots in bankruptcy court. At GLAH Board of Directors, and But the challenges they the same time, they worked other valuable returns. have faced since parent com- with ALPA Communications Under the new deal, the pi- Pilots Stand pany Department staff to begin lots and management agreed Their Ground (GLAH) filed for protection educating the pilot group to meet within 90 days to under Chapter 11 of the U.S. about the bankruptcy process. discuss the implementation In Bankruptcy bankruptcy code in February The NAA-ALPA team of additional operational sav- Negotiations 2012 and dragged the airline exchanged proposals with ings and revenue-generating and sister carrier World management over the spring measures, review and resolve By Barbara Gottshalk Airways into bankruptcy and reached an agreement- outstanding grievances, and Lead Communications Specialist concessionary negotiations in-principle (AIP) in mid-June. find and clarify problematic have been more problematic. Then, the pilot group got contract language. “We under- The year started out on thrown another curveball: the stand that this is a critical and a positive note, with the Teamsters (IBT), which repre- fragile time for our company, Master Executive Council sents the pilots and we stand ready to work (MEC) preparing for Section and flight attendants and the closely with our management 6 negotiations (the pilots’ NAA flight attendants, peti- to help our company regain contract had a December tioned the National Mediation its financial viability and Board (NMB) seeking a advance our mutual goals for determination of single-carrier the future,” Lewis says. “To status for the two airlines. achieve success, however, our “Immediately after learn- management must fulfill the ing of this, senior ALPA staff commitments it made to our contacted me to discuss the pilots in this agreement.” situation and our plan for Contract implementation is responding,” says Lewis. “They under way. In November, the assigned a team to cover pilots got the news that the Capt. Selim Wehber and F/O the NMB process and act to NMB had denied the IBT’s Christina Waugh preparing protect our interests, giving single-carrier petition. for an early morning us the same level of attention “It’s too early to tell wheth- departure from Leipzig, and resources we received to er the company will reorganize Germany, enroute to Atlanta. assist us with our bankruptcy successfully,” Capt. Lee Moak, negotiations, financial analy- ALPA’s president, says. “But it 2012 amendable date). In late sis, and legal representation.” tells the ALPA story: we never January, the pilots won an By mid-August, the NAA- give up—and we always look arbitration relating to a vaca- ALPA negotiating team had for opportunities when the tion pay grievance. hammered out a tentative going gets tough.” Two weeks later, the out- agreement (TA) under threat look changed. With the news of a Section 1113 filing, but of the Chapter 11 filing and the pilots rejected it in the AtaGlance subsequent downsizing, the ratification process. n Pilots joined ALPA: 2009 group learned that 40 pilots The Negotiating Commit­tee n Number of pilots: 150 would be furloughed and 14 went back to the bargaining n Pilot base: New York (JFK) n Peachtree City, Ga. more downgraded. table right away, with the goal Headquarters: n Operations: Provides air transpor- The pilot leaders responded of achieving a new agreement tation services throughout the world, swiftly. Capt. Rob Lewis, the that responded to some of the operating both charter and scheduled pilots’ MEC chairman, along concerns pilots voiced about service for the U.S. military, tour with several other pilot repre­ the initial TA. After an intense operators, government agencies, and sports teams, among others, and as sentatives and ALPA staff bargaining session over a 36- an ACMI carrier for other scheduled from the Representation hour period, the Negotiating airlines Department and Economic Committee successfully n Fleet: 5 B-767-300ERs and Financial Analysis negotiated several improve- North American North January 2013 Air Line Pilot 39 or the last 12 months, MEC chairman. “We’ve been of availability of most pilots The Piedmont pilots have careful to listen to our group, due to scheduling—to listen. Frevved up activities and explore options, and find our Those who couldn’t make Pilots commonalities and focus it accessed the audio files of built unity in a pilot group that has—based on its merg- on them rather than our afterward. As the vote neared ALPA er in the recent past—been differences.” closing, the MEC was sending disconnected both geographi- As negotiations continued messages via every commu- 2013 cally and demographically. to drag into their third year, nications medium. A strong The challenges for the MEC sent a clear mes- vote was important, but so Piedmont pilots are many. sage to management that was one that represented a While they number fewer the group was unified. The large majority of the pilot Finding than 400, they are spread MEC unanimously agreed group. Common across five domiciles in four to put a strike authoriza- On August 10, the results states. With scheduling so tion resolution before the were counted. Almost 93 Ground tight much of the time, few members. This resolution percent of eligible pilots had B y Jen Lofquist pilots are available for events authorized the pilot leaders participated, and of those Senior Communications and meetings. The pilots to call a legal strike if the pilots, 93 percent voted in Specialist also range widely in age and National Mediation Board favor of the strike authoriza- career expectations. Many are concluded that negotiations tion resolution. The message extremely senior and nearing had reached an impasse and had been sent to manage- retirement. But an increasing released the groups from ment—and negotiations have number are younger new mediation, thus triggering a been moving forward, albeit hires just starting their airline 30-day cooling-off period. slowly. In late November, Pied- mont pilots and management had a rare moment of agree- ment at an arbitration hear- ing. The two sides opened their wallets and pooled their personal resources and bought Powerball tickets for the $587 million jackpot. “Our goal is not, and has never been, to call a strike,” says Freedman. “However, we wanted to be sure that Capt. Russ Denney with the ramp crew for the last Piedmont management knew that flight out of LaGuardia Airport. no matter how different this pilot group may seem careers. In addition, the group “Our diversity challenged on paper, we have much has had significant attrition, us to find new ways to com- more in common. One thing with hiring unable to keep municate with our pilots,” every Piedmont pilot shares, up with the number of pilots Freedman notes. “We simply whether they’ve been here leaving the company. With couldn’t rely on one method 30 years or 90 days, is the concerted communications to reach all of our pilots. desire for a contract that is efforts, the Master Executive We had to spread the mes- fair and equitable. We think Council (MEC) and its com- sages across a multitude of this is not only achievable, mittees have reached out to channels, and we used them but within reach. We just the pilots, making sure that all—from Facebook to texting have to work together to get every pilot is aware of not to flyers in crew room mail- there.” only the status of negotia- boxes. But our most effective tions, but also how the group method was just one-on-one is collectively preparing for and all-pilot calls.” AtaGlance the negotiating endgame. The group also held all- n Pilots joined ALPA: 1984 “We are a very diverse pilot calls late in the evening n Number of pilots: 344 group, with a wide range with members of the MEC n Headquarters: Salisbury, Md. n of opinions and—more and Negotiating Committee Pilot bases: New Bern, N.C.; Charlottesville, Va.; Roanoke, Va.; importantly—expectations on the line. The pilots came Harrisburg, Pa.; and Salisbury, Md. for this contract,” says Capt. out in large numbers—es- n Fleet: 44 DHC-8s Bruce Freedman, the pilots’ pecially considering the lack Piedmont 40 Air Line Pilot January 2013 Editor’s note: Details of the on April 1, 2012, and an- million in concessions; The tentative agreement reached nounced that it would cease Pinnacle’s proposal was not between Pinnacle Airlines all of its turboprop flying. fair and equitable, finding Pilots pilots and management on Pinnacle pilots spent that Pinnacle did not offer of Dec. 17, 2012, were not public most of 2012 putting on a enough upside to the pilot ALPA as of press time. pragmatic defense of the group; and ALPA had good industry-leading contract they cause to reject management’s 2013 innacle pilots have ratified in 2011, starting with proposal because Pinnacle endured two years of battling management’s May overreached in its demands. Pturbulence that finally term sheet of $33.2 million in “Judge Gerber’s ruling shows some signs of leveling annual concessions followed allowed us to avoid imposed Strength off as 2013 begins and the by the showdown over the terms, but it was not a solu- In Unity: pilots are poised to vote on increased August demand for tion to our problems,” says a tentative agreement (TA) $59.6 million in annual con- Wychor “We knew our only Pilots Face reached in the early morning cessions—all while Pinnacle future as Pinnacle pilots Bankruptcy hours of Dec. 17, 2012. Airlines was spending millions would come with a consen- “We appreciate the sup- of dollars on legal fees and sual deal that addresses By Kimberly Seitz port of all Pinnacle pilots consultants. Pinnacle’s significant financial Senior Communications throughout this grueling, year- Since early May, the MEC hurdles while also recognizing Specialist long ordeal,” says Capt. Tom had been overseeing bank- our pilots’ needs. Wychor, the pilots’ Master ruptcy negotiations and “All along, we were willing Executive Council (MEC) searching for acceptable solu- to find a resolution to the problems that exist within the organization,” Wychor ob- serves. “Our negotiators and ALPA staff were always more than prepared to discuss alternatives designed to solve the company’s liquidity crisis and provide a viable future for our pilots. This agreement meets both goals. Capt. Tom Wychor, the Pinnacle MEC chairman, center with back “This pilot group spent the to camera, talks to pilots at one of many pilot unity building year focused on getting this events conducted in Pinnacle domiciles during 2012. deal,” says Wychor, “and if ratified, 2013 will see the start chairman. “Difficult decisions tions to addresses manage- a new chapter for this airline. were made throughout this ment’s term sheet. Pinnacle Without the tremendous process as our negotiators pilots spent four days in support of ALPA, we would crafted an agreement that October in U.S. Bankruptcy have been unable to navigate preserves a future for our Court in Manhattan, N.Y., a successful conclusion to the pilots and the airline.” arguing their case in front Pinnacle story.” The bumpy ride for of Judge Robert Gerber. Pinnacle pilots begin in 2010, In November, the judge with the surprise purchase of denied Pinnacle Airlines’ AtaGlance Mesaba Airlines by Pinnacle 1113 motion to reject the n Pilots joined ALPA: 1988 (as Airlines, Corp., and the pilots’ collective bargaining Express Airlines I before it changed its subsequent successful nego- agreement and spared the name to Pinnacle in 2002); purchased Colgan Air in 2007 and Mesaba tiation of an industry-leading pilots from the immediate Airlines in 2010 joint collective bargaining threat of imposed terms and n Number of pilots: 2,467 agreement negotiated in just conditions. n Operations: More than 800 100 days. During 2011, the Judge Gerber found that daily flights for Delta Air Lines to integrated (Colgan, Mesaba, the airline was not able to 110 airports across the United States and Canada and Pinnacle) seniority list satisfy the following ele- n Pilot domiciles: Atlanta, Ga.; was implemented, and a ments necessary under the Detroit, Mich.; Memphis, Tenn.; single MEC was established. bankruptcy code: Pinnacle’s Minneapolis, Minn.; New York’s JFK; However, the turbulence proposal was not necessary Boston, Mass.; and Newark, N.J. increased dramatically when to the reorganization, specifi- n Headquarters: Memphis, Tenn. n 141 Canadair CRJ200s and Pinnacle Airlines, Corp., cally Pinnacle overreached Fleet: 55 CRJ900s sought bankruptcy protection with its demand for $59.6 Pinnacle January 2013 Air Line Pilot 41 ur day has value” was and responsibilities of each launched an online survey The ‘‘ the strong message committee. The MEC also to get pilot input for making OPSA pilots conveyed provided the committees improvements to future Pilots with ALPA’s full support schedules. of to management as they marked the third anniver- and resources through Additionally, the pilots ALPA sary of the start of contract various volunteer training responded in force when negotiations in June. With programs and participation in Coeling called on them to 2013 contract talks down to the Association activities and on send a collective message major economic items, the ALPA committees. to management to reverse pilot group wanted to signal In May, MEC officers, the its decision to opt out of to management their unified Negotiating Committee chair- the Known Crewmember® Pilots Prove position: now is the time to man, and ALPA staff from the (KCM) program. As a result, Their Value reach a deal that rewards PSA Representation Department management agreed to pilots for the valuable service and Communications continue to participate in By Barbara Gottshalk they provide to their airline Department began the stra- the program. On October 30, Lead Communications and their passengers. tegic planning process. “We PSA pilot leaders were on Specialist “Securing a fair, improved adopted a strategic approach hand at Charlotte Douglas contract now not only would that centered on building a International Airport for the recognize the important role robust cadre of well-trained launch of KCM there. our pilots play in PSA’s opera- pilot volunteers, tapping into The pilots’ main goal tions, but it also would provide the expertise and experience continues to be securing a the necessary stability for PSA of ALPA’s professional staff, contract that recognizes their to succeed in this dynamic and engaging the pilots in importance to the airline’s environment,” says Capt. Jesse union activities,” Coeling says. operations and helps PSA Coeling, the pilots’ Master maintain its competitiveness Executive Council (MEC) in the US Airways system. In chairman who took office in September, the pilot group re- January 2012. ceived a $1 million grant from Throughout the summer ALPA’s Major Contingency and fall, the pilot group kept Fund. The newly formed the pressure on management Strategic Preparedness and on parallel fronts. At the bar- Strike Committee and the gaining table, the Negotiating Communications Committee Committee stood firm even Capt. Mark Hinczynski, MEC are mobilizing to help pilots as management employed secretary-treasurer, left, on an prepare for the negotiations stalling tactics and made little initial operating experience endgame. movement, especially in the trip with Capt. Chad Frey. The messages that the key economic areas. pilot group has been sending Meanwhile, the MEC This approach is paying to management have been launched a determined off. The PSA Contract Enforce­- getting through. At their bar- communications drive that in- ment Committee and Griev­ gaining session in November, cluded pilots displaying their ance Review Subcommittee management negotiators support for the Negotiating have resolved a number of finally made a proposal that Committee with stickers, grievances, often achieving moved the parties closer to badge backers, and bag tags; positive results. The Hotel reaching their goal of a con- taking their message to the Committee’s collaboration sensual contract. news media; and pilot unity with management, TLX building events. (which administers layover This high level of engage- hotels), and the flight at- AtaGlance ment was a key MEC objec- tendants has led to improve- n Pilots joined ALPA: 1988 tive as it began charting the ments in layover hotels, the n Number of pilots: Approximately pilot group’s course for the hotel selection process, and 500 n Operations: PSA is a wholly owned future. Led by Coeling, the contractual compliance. The subsidiary of US Airways Group. It MEC focused on revitalizing Pilot Assistance Committee, operates 327 flights per day as US the PSA committee structure together with ALPA’s Critical Airways Express, serving 65 airports and expanding its communi- Incident Response Program in the U.S. n cations program. (CIRP) chair, is working with Bases: Charlotte, N.C., Dayton, Ohio; and Knoxville, Tenn. To that end, the MEC management representatives n Headquarters: Dayton, Ohio developed an MEC policy to enhance CIRP at PSA, and n Fleet: 35 CRJ200s and 14 CRJ700s manual that defines the roles the Scheduling Committee PSA 42 Air Line Pilot January 2013 t’s been a rough ride for the service until April. Potter, but they remain frus- The pilots of Ryan International. The costs associated with trated that more action has IPoor decision-making by these government dictates not been taken to restructure Pilots former management led to were too much for Ryan, management. of drastic capacity cuts and a which is owned by a real Although Ryan pilots have ALPA bankruptcy filing in March estate holding company with done their part to save their 2012. Consequently, the air- limited airline experience. airline, losses have continued 2013 line has experienced sizeable In February, the carrier an- to mount, and management fleet and personnel reduc- nounced it would park two has furloughed more and tions, compelling the Ryan of its B-767s and immedi- more pilots. Since 2011, the pilot group to work with the ately furlough pilots based active pilot group has shrunk The Future new corporate leaders to find on aircraft type rather than to approximately a quarter of Remains solutions to keep their opera- seniority number. its former size, and Ryan has tion running. “A week after the com- lost seven of its airplanes. Uncertain “We’ve been walking a pany’s ill-advised announce- “We’re a resilient group By John Perkinson tightrope between enforcing ment, we negotiated a deal and have been through tough Staff Writer the contract and allowing to bring those pilots back. times before,” notes Sparks. management some relief to We cut our guarantee and “We’re still working hard for keep the airline in business,” days worked for everyone our pilots, even though the says Capt. Erik Sparks, the flying the B-767 by 25 per- majority of our committee pilots’ Master Executive cent,” Sparks says. “We later volunteers and MEC mem- Council (MEC) chairman. learned that, days before the bers have been furloughed.” Section 6 contract negotia- illegal furlough, management While Ryan’s future remains uncertain, the fact that the A Ryan International B-767-300ER glistens after airline continues to operate is a thunderstorm passes in Kansas City. due in large part to its daunt- less pilots and their spirit of cooperation and sacrifice. Ryan Aviation Corporation began as a fixed-base opera- tions began in fall 2011 but personnel had awarded them- tor in 1976, providing fueling quickly turned into bargaining selves bonuses.” and maintenance services in for a series of letters of agree- The airline filed for Chapter Wichita, Kan. Changing its ment as management sought 11 bankruptcy on March name to Ryan International short-term solutions to ease 6, citing a “precarious cash Airlines, the organization its fiscal crisis. By August, flow crisis” from decreased hired pilots and started ALPA suspended bargaining military contract revenues. A transporting freight. By 1984, altogether so that pilots and month later, Ryan lost a key Ryan began flying passengers management could focus U.S. Department of Justice on a charter basis. The solely on saving the company. contract and immediately airline ceased cargo opera- The problems began when grounded its four MD-80s, tions in 2004 and moved its Ryan received notice from the which it had used for pris- headquarters to its current U.S. Department of Defense oner transport. By August, the location in Rockford, Ill., in (DOD) in mid-2010 that its airline would return the leased 2006 after its purchase by military passenger lift would A330-300 it had spent so the Rubloff Development be reduced and larger aircraft much time acquiring to Virgin Group. would be required to retain Atlantic, replacing it with an its DOD contract. A330-200 previously flown by Management scrambled Atlas Jet, a Turkish airline. to find a large widebody to Meanwhile, creditors ap- AtaGlance meet the DOD’s demands plied pressure to limit the n Pilots joined ALPA: 1998 n but lost precious time role of Ryan’s owners and to Number of pilots: 211 (including furloughees) seeking used B-777s before change senior management. n Pilot domicile: Rockford, Ill. ultimately leasing an Airbus Jeff Potter, former president n Operations: Ryan International A330-300 from Virgin and CEO of , Airlines (not to be confused with Atlantic. Even then, the was hired as “chief restructur- Ireland-based Ryanair) provides DOD delayed approving the ing officer” and immediately scheduled and charter services for customers around the globe Airbus for military use until took positive steps to stabilize n Fleet: 1 A330-200 and 2 February 2012, and Ryan operations. The pilots have B-767-300ERs wasn’t able to put it into welcomed the addition of Ryan January 2013 Air Line Pilot 43 ith their contract same arbitrator found that Adding to the struggles The not amendable management had disobeyed are the company’s near- Wuntil 2015, the Spirit his award, with hearings record growth and profits. Pilots continuing in an effort to find Spirit currently encompasses of pilots have been focusing their attention on contract a remedy. just 1 percent of the market ALPA enforcement, sending a clear “The nature of the dis- share in the United States, message to management agreement is pretty simple,” but it has announced a goal 2013 that they will not tolerate its continues Amongero. “We of tripling that over the next disregard for their collective want all our pilots to have few years. Bolstered by a bargaining agreement. an equal opportunity to pick profit margin of nearly 9 per- “For a new contract, and up open-time flying at a cent, in an industry where Growing in one that very clearly spelled set premium. Management the norm is just .02 percent, Numbers and out terms, we are dealing executives, however, seem the company is adding new with an enormous number of to wish to bestow open-time routes and, most notably for Strength failures of this management flying, and the accompanying pilots, hiring. Currently, it’s B y Jen Lofquist to abide by the very contract premium pay, to only certain adding more than a dozen Senior Communications it signed,” says Capt. Chris pilots using a system known pilots each month. This has Specialist Amongero, the pilots’ Master only to them.” put an additional strain on Executive Council (MEC) Junior manning is only one the pilot group, as it seeks chairman. “We should still be example of management’s to encourage growth but not in the honeymoon phase of disregard for a contract that allow management to un- a new agreement. Instead, it extends through the summer fairly take advantage of the appears we took our entire 2015. The pilot group, and its airline’s growing pains. leaders, spend an inordinate The pilot group has also Spirit’s fleet includes 27 A319s, amount of time filing griev- become more geographically 16 A320s, and 2 A321s. ances, attending arbitrations, diverse, with a new base in and settling arguments over Las Vegas, Nev., that opened contract language that leaves in February and a new no doubt of intention or domicile in Dallas, Tex. The process. company is also adding new Using ALPA’s Represen­ airplanes, planning to nearly tation Department, Spirit double its fleet by 2015. pilots have responded by “With the number of new filing grievances and refus- faces on the property, we also ing to roll over when their have new challenges,” says hard-won contract is violated. Amongero. “Those of us who Also, thanks to an innovative, were here during the strike list of arbitrators on the hon- expedited dispute resolu- need to make sure that pilots eymoon with us.” tion process included in the coming onto the property As an example, though contract, these grievances are understand the situation at the contract clearly spells being settled quickly. But no Spirit. We’ve seen a lot of out the procedure for junior matter how quickly one griev- the newer pilots, especially manning—calling up pilots ance is resolved, another one those who came from other to pick up additional fly- pops up. ALPA pilot groups, step up to ing—management abused “We are winning the vast take leadership roles. It’s this the policy almost as soon majority of these arbitrations, sort of commitment that will as the ink was dry on the which you would think would protect our contract—now hard-won collective bargain- cause management to think and as Spirit continues to ing agreement, which came twice about ignoring the g ro w.” after a five-day strike in 2010. contract,” Amongero observes. In April 2012, an arbitrator “But this simply isn’t the found that management case. No matter how clear AtaGlance had violated the contractual and precise the contract is, n Pilots joined ALPA: 1996 limits on junior manning, and management just does what it n Number of pilots: 657 he required the company to wants until an arbitrator says n Headquarters: Miramar, Fla. “cease and desist.” However, it can’t. Sometimes, as in the n Pilot bases: Atlantic City, N.J.; Detroit, Mich.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; management ignored the case of junior manning, man- and Las Vegas, Nev. finding and continued to use agement continues to violate n Fleet: 27 A319s, 16 A320s, and 2 junior manning to shore up the agreement even after an A321s scheduling. In September, the arbitrator has said it can’t.” Spirit

44 Air Line Pilot January 2013 s contract talks enter and has sponsored several flights. It currently flies U.S. The the three-year mark high-profile events to educate service members to and from Aat Minneapolis-based and unify the group. Kuwait. Pilots , the Mas- The MEC’s first-ever The pilots and Sun Country of ter Executive Council (MEC) informational picketing event, entered negotiations in 2010 ALPA has condensed its negotiating held at MSP on September while the airline was still in goals into two simple words: 19, was a huge success, bankruptcy. In 2011 Cambria 2013 parity, period. generating strong news media Holdings, a Minnesota-based, With the airline con- coverage as more than 100 privately held family company sistently making a profit of the airline’s 184 pilots with no labor experience over the last several years, participated. that’s better known for mak- Parity Is a expanding operations, and “We’ve proven we can ing countertops, bought the Priority finding new business after perform any kind of flying the airline for $34 million. almost going out of business company gives us, and with a The airline has been profit- By Rusty Ayers four years ago, pilot leaders high level of professionalism,” able since 2010. But the Davis Senior Communications believe it should no longer Vanatta says. “We have just family, which owns Cambria, Specialist be necessary for employees begun work with a federal has been unwilling to make to provide financial support mediator, and we hope he any further investment in the by continuing to work for will be able to jump-start our business, saying any growth subpar wages. “Now that talks so that we can reach in the company—including the airline is doing well, we agreement on a new contract employee salaries—must think it’s time that we were early in 2013.” come from the company’s brought into parity with our Originally built in the own earnings. peers,” says Capt. Dennis early 1980s with a single “We recognize Cambria’s Vanatta, the pilots’ MEC A Sun Country B-737-800. chairman. “Unfortunately, it’s taking us far too long to get management to agree with us.” Almost two years out of bankruptcy and a year into

its relationship with a new WIKIPEDIA COMMONS owner, Sun Country’s pilots airplane flown by furloughed view, but it needs to under- still languish near the bottom Airlines employees, stand ours: we believe profits of the narrowbody pay scale, Sun Country developed a are what’s left over after you a situation the group’s leaders comfortable niche market as have paid your employees are working hard to change. a vacation airline to Florida, a fair and reasonable wage, The two sides are still far Mexico, and the Caribbean. not instead of paying your apart on a number of issues, After two bankruptcies in employees,” Vanatta says. but most especially pilot the past decade, the airline is pay. When the pilots and reinventing itself once again management exchanged pay as a small-scale network AtaGlance proposals in mid-September airline with big ambitions. n Pilots joined ALPA: 1996 2012, the company proposed The airline is slowly add- n Founded: 1982 a five-year agreement with a ing pilots and new aircraft n Number of pilots: 184 2 percent signing bonus and a to its fleet of B-737NGs and n Pilot base: Minneapolis–St. Paul, one-time 2 percent raise that is building its network of Minn. n Operations: Based in Mendota is conditioned on events over year-round service to business Heights, Minn., Sun Country flies which the pilots have no con- destinations. It added new scheduled service to 32 destinations, trol. The pilots are currently service to Costa Rica in 2012 11 of which are served year-round. paid about 20 percent less and continues to fly from MSP The airline also operates charter than pilots at other airlines to London’s Gatwick Airport in flights to numerous locations in the continental United States, Hawaii, flying comparable equipment. the summer months. Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, and In addition to face-to- And after winning ETOPS the United Kingdom. The airline is also face negotiations, the pilot certification and becom- actively seeking military charter flying group spent 2012 building ing a member of the UPS and is a member of the Department of its volunteer organization. It Contractor Team for the U.S. Defense’s Civil Reserve Air Fleet n Fleet: 15 B-737NGs, with 3 more created Family Awareness, Transportation Command, planned for 2013 and more aircraft Pilot-to-Pilot, and Strategic in 2011 Sun Country began leased seasonally Preparedness Committees operating military charter Sun Country

January 2013 Air Line Pilot 45 fter working under amid furloughs and a further lished a joint committee to The their new contract anticipated fleet reduction. look at various vendors. “Our Afor just more than a However, things turned plan is to run tests as soon Pilots around by springtime. “The as possible so that the pilots of year, the Trans States pilots are finally in a position in company reworked the can decide if PBS is right ALPA which their Master Executive aircraft leases and code-share for them. We’ll also need to Council (MEC), and newly ap- agreements to maintain negotiate a separate LOA to 2013 pointed MEC chairman, can our current fleet size at integrate PBS with the terms focus their energy on enforc- 22,” Simmons says, “and all of our current agreement,” ing their hard-won contract. furloughed pilots are now Simmons adds. “After more than five years back.” Trans States, which flies The pilots also continue to Cruise of negotiations, it’s important regional jets for United and participate in the US Airways Control Set at that we ensure that manage- US Airways, continues to hire Express Pilots Alliance ment adheres to the items it 10 pilots per month and plans (USEPA), a collaboration of Trans States agreed to and that the pilots to hire into 2013 to meet ALPA-represented US Airways By Kimberly Seitz get the full benefit of their the demands of attrition and Express pilot groups. “USEPA Senior Communications sacrifices and the Negotiating the company’s need to reach continues to provide invalu- Specialist Committee’s hard work its desired staffing levels. able networking opportunities during our last contract Additionally, all pilots who among regional airlines at our negotiations,” says Capt. were downgraded as a result level,” says Simmons. “With Cliff Simmons, the former of the furloughs should be a focus on safety, training, Negotiating Committee back in the captain’s seat as and job security, the alliance chairman who was elected to this issue goes to press. members work together to

One of Trans States’ 22 EMB-145s. WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

serve as the MEC chairman in The pilots and the airline ensure that our energy is used September 2012. reached a major milestone to support each other during Simmons notes that the in 2012 with the imple- negotiations.” operations director at Trans mentation of an Advanced Simmons explains that States has made it a goal to Qualification Program (AQP) information exchanged at have a more open and con- training initiative launched in USEPA meetings helped his tinuous dialogue between the October. A leading objective pilot group craft a Flight ops team and the pilot group. of AQP is to provide effective Operations and Quality “We hold planned labor rela- training that will enhance Assurance (FOQA) LOA in tions meetings,” Simmons professional qualifications 2011 and that he continues says, “and have so far been to a level above the present to collaborate with alliance successful at quickly dealing standards. pilot groups that are in with important issues and, The pilot group’s next negotiations. in some instances, avoiding challenge is deciding how grievances.” to test and implement a While the union and the preferential bidding system AtaGlance company do not always agree, (PBS). Historically, PBS adds n Pilots joined ALPA: 1993 Simmons says that manage- value to both parties in n Signed first ALPA contract: 1994 ment is “working in a positive staffing, efficiencies, and cost n Number of pilots: 260 n Operations: More than 150 daily direction” to effectively and savings. The contract contains flights to 39 cities, serving more than efficiently rectify concerns. a provision for the parties 2.1 million passengers annually “Good labor relations and to evaluate whether a PBS while flying as United Express and contract enforcement go a is beneficial for use at Trans US Airways Express long way in attracting and States. The company and the n Pilot domiciles: St. Louis, Mo., and Washington Dulles, Va. retaining qualified pilots,” he pilots signed a protocol letter n Headquarters: St. Louis, Mo. notes. of agreement (LOA) at the n Fleet: 22 EMB-145s The pilots started 2012 end of the year that estab- Trans States Trans

46 Air Line Pilot January 2013 he pilots of United be proud of how we, together, in the areas of safety and The Airlines, at last, stand at have met each and every training. He calls on United Tthe threshold of a new challenge with professional- management to, once again, Pilots beginning; a day they have ism and courage. We have welcome ALPA’s presence of been working toward since honored our profession and at the table and listen to ALPA the horrific events of Sept. 11, continue to set the standard the pilots’ expertise in these 2001. The recent ratification of for airline excellence.” arenas. He calls on manage- 2013 the joint collective bargaining With the combination of ment to step up and make a agreement (JCBA) by the pilots two pilot groups, there are positive change to United’s of United and Continental bound to be unique chal- corporate culture. represents a giant step toward lenges. As in any merger, “United Airlines is Pilots Stand the dawning of that new day. there will be growing pains. presented another chance At Threshold Much work remains before But there also will be unique to usher in a new start in United and Continental pilots opportunities. management-labor relations,” Of a New Day can combine to become “Bringing 12,000 pilots notes Heppner. “Management By C. David Kelly 12,000 strong. Now the in- together, getting the 1,436 shouldn’t squander this one. Senior Communications tegration of the seniority list furloughed United pilots back We stand ready to work as Specialist must be completed, a process on the property, and working equal stakeholders in building that is expected to take sever- shoulder-to-shoulder toward the new United. Management al months. But the ratification a common goal will unlock must stop viewing pilots as of the JCBA cleared a huge great opportunities,” Heppner adversaries and recognize us hurdle toward bringing these says. “There is power in as essential and respected two pilot groups together. numbers. And United partners in this airline. Once “It really has been a trying management will be dealing that occurs, our passengers and challenging time for the pilots of United,” says Capt. Jay Heppner, the United pi- lots’ Master Executive Council (MEC) chairman. “One would be hard-pressed to find a pilot group throughout the history of the airline industry that has weathered such a sustained series of threats to our jobs and the profession. Arduous schedules, the eco- nomic realities of corporate America, and a company United operates a mix of A319s, A320s, B-747s, B-757s, mindset that seemed intent B-767s, and B-777s. on pitting management against labor at every turn with a group that is not only and shareholders will finally are just a few of the realities unified but also determined be able to reap the full syner- that have consumed much of to be respected as a vital part gies that were promised our energy these past several of the world’s largest airline. by management when it years. United management should announced the United- “Through all the challenges not make the mistake of as- Continental merger.” and threats to our careers, suming that the differences in however, we have continued cultures and histories of the to stand tall together. Our two pilot groups will enable AtaGlance collective determination led it to approach us as separate us toward a JCBA that will entities. This group will move n Pilots joined ALPA: 1932 n Number of pilots: Approximately usher in a new era for 12,000 forward together with one 7,500 (1,436 on furlough) United Airlines pilots and will common goal: to represent n Headquarters: Chicago, Ill. help us to put the dark days the interests of 12,000 United n Pilot domiciles: Washington of working under bankruptcy- pilots and tirelessly defend Dulles, Va.; Chicago, Ill.; Seattle, era contracts behind us. As our careers.” Wash.; Denver, Colo.; San Francisco, Calif.; New York (JFK), and Los United pilots, it would be Heppner hopes that Angeles, Calif. impossible to reflect on what management will recognize n Fleet: A319s, A320s, B-747s, has transpired in our lives the talents and contributions B-757s, B-767s, and B-777s since Sept. 11, 2001, and not of this pilot group, especially United January 2013 Air Line Pilot 47 s the Wasaya pilots more cooperative labour- communities rely on the The enter their fifth year management relationship. airline to transport not just Aas ALPA members, the “Both sides are more collegial passengers, but also fuel, Pilots food, and medicine. Given the of pilot group that came into the and committed to a common union with no contract and goal—a contract that is fair to vital necessity of these flights, ALPA few protections has grown not both pilots and management,” and the pilots who fly them, only in number but also in says Harding. in 2010 the union and man- 2013 what it would like to achieve With negotiating sessions agement experts determined in its next contract. As it planned through March 2013, that Wasaya constituted an continues working toward its the group is well on its way “essential services” provider second collective bargaining to a second agreement that under Canadian law. Stopping, Closer to a agreement, the pilot group is more mature than the first, reducing, or even delaying Contract has changed tactics and which is reflective of a more these services could risk the bargaining methods. Unlike established pilot group. safety and well-being of the B y Jen Lofquist the nearly three years it took Not too long ago, the pilot northern residents. Senior Communications the pilots to achieve their group had significant, if not The essential services Specialist first ALPA contract in 2010, staggering, turnover rates. designation is more than negotiations are now interest- Many junior pilots viewed just a sign of Wasaya’s based rather than under the Wasaya as a stepping-stone for importance; it also prevents traditional proposal-based building flight time and then the disruption of services that bargaining model. leaving for larger airlines and a strike or a lockout could In interest-based nego- bigger paychecks. However, cause, according to the tiations (IBN), the two sides with a new contract improving Canada Labour Code. This left share their ideas for solving upon the pilots’ achievements, the door open for alternative negotiating styles, including interest-based, when the two sides began negotiations. “We strongly believe that management shares our commitment to strengthen- ing and growing this airline,” Harding says. “This commit- ment can only be assisted by pilots who plan to stay at the airline long-term, and thus achieve solutions, not just patches to problems, until they leave. By putting in place A Hawker Siddeley HS748 prepares for loading. an improved pilot contract that makes Wasaya an attrac- the specific issue on the they are reconsidering their tive, long-term employer, we table and then move toward career paths. “The quality-of- are building an airline that a collaborative solution, life improvements in the first offers greater opportunities rather than spending time contract and a better relation- for the people on both sides formulating written proposals ship with management helped of the table.” that can “anchor” a party’s transform Wasaya into a place thinking. “Even though we where a pilot could work, are still in the early bargain- support a family, and eventu- AtaGlance ing stages,” comments F/O ally retire. A new contract will n Pilots joined ALPA: 2008 James Harding, the pilots’ continue this trend—and n Number of pilots: 77 Master Executive Council build a group of pilots commit- n Hub: Thunder Bay, Ont. (MEC) chairman, “we’ve ted to the long-term success of n Pilot domiciles: Thunder Bay, Ont.; Pickle Lake, Ont.; Sioux Lookout, Ont.; made substantial progress. Wasaya,” Harding says. Timmins, Ont.; and Red Lake, Ont. We’re further along since just Wasaya’s primary busi- n Operations: Thunder Bay, Ont.; September 2012 than we ness remains serving the 25 Pickle Lake, Ont.; Sioux Lookout, Ont.; were in our second year of First Nation communities of Timmins, Ont.; and Red Lake, Ont. our prior negotiations.” A by- Ontario and Manitoba—com- n Fleet: 27 airplanes, including Beech 1900Ds, Cessna C-208Bs, product of the interest-based munities often inaccessible Hawker Siddeley HS748s, Pilatus negotiating approach is that by any method of transporta- PC-12s, and Dash 8s it assists in fostering a better, tion other than air. These Wasaya

48 Air Line Pilot January 2013